Shloka 14

Devanagari script

ऋषभांश्वापि जानामि राजन्‌ पूजितलक्षणान्‌ | येषां मूत्रमुपाप्राय अपि वन्ध्या प्रसूयते,महात्मा राजा युधिष्ठिरको मेरे ये गुण भलीभाँति विदित थे। वे कुरुगाज युधिष्ठिर सदा मेरे ऊपर संतुष्ट रहते थे। किन-किन उपायोंसे गौओंकी संख्या शीघ्र बढ़ जाती है और उनमें कोई रोग नहीं पैदा होता, यह सब मुझे ज्ञात है। महाराज! ये ही कलाएँ मुझमें विद्यमान हैं। इनके सिवा मैं उन उत्तम लक्षणोंवाले बैलोंको भी जानता हूँ, जिनके मूत्रको सूँघ लेनेमात्रसे वन्ध्या स्त्री भी गर्भधारण एवं संतान उत्पन्न करनेयोग्य हो जाती है

Transliteration

ṛṣabhānśvāpi jānāmi rājan pūjitalakṣaṇān | yeṣāṃ mūtram upāprāya api vandhyā prasūyate ||

Translation

Sahadeva said: “O King, I also know those noble, well-honoured bulls, marked by auspicious signs—such that merely approaching (or smelling) their urine enables even a barren woman to conceive and bring forth a child.”

Word by Word

ऋषभान्bulls

अश्वान्horses

अपिalso/even

जानामिI know

राजन्O king

पूजितलक्षणान्having honored/esteemed marks (auspicious characteristics)

येषाम्of whom/whose

मूत्रम्urine

उपाप्रायhaving approached/come near (i.e., when approached/used)

अपिeven

वन्ध्याa barren woman

प्रसूयतेgives birth/produces offspring

Speaker

सहदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sahadeva

King (Virata, implied by context)

Ṛ

ṛṣabha (bulls)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Competence and specialized knowledge, when offered in rightful service, becomes a dharmic means of protection and sustenance—here expressed through Sahadeva’s expertise in identifying auspicious, valuable cattle.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Pandavas’ incognito stay in Virata’s kingdom, Sahadeva presents his qualifications related to cattle and breeding stock, asserting that he can recognize superior bulls with celebrated auspicious properties.