Shloka 20

Virāṭa’s Mobilization to Recover the Cattle (गोधनरक्षणार्थ विराटस्य सैन्यसमायोजनम्)

Devanagari script

शासने नित्यसंयुक्त दःशासनमनन्तरम्‌ | सह वृद्धैस्तु सम्मन्त्रय क्षिप्रं योजय वाहिनीम्‌

Transliteration

śāsane nityasaṁyuktaṁ duḥśāsanam anantaram | saha vṛddhais tu sammantrya kṣipraṁ yojaya vāhinīm ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Then King Duryodhana at once commanded his younger brother Duḥśāsana—ever ready to carry out orders—“After consulting with the elders, quickly marshal the army and make it ready to set out.”

Word by Word

• शासने: in (his) command/obedience
• शासने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• नित्य-संयुक्तम्: always engaged/ever devoted
• नित्य-संयुक्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्यसंयुक्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दुःशासनम्: Duhshasana
• दुःशासनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःशासन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनन्तरम्: immediately/without delay
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर
• Form: true

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह
• Form: true

• वृद्धैः: with the elders
• वृद्धैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु
• Form: true

• सम्मन्त्रय: consult (deliberate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + मन्त्र्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र
• Form: true

• योजय: prepare/arrange (set in readiness)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (णिच्)
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वाहिनीम्: the army
• वाहिनीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहिनी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Duryodhana
• Duḥśāsana
• vṛddhāḥ (the elders/senior Kuru counselors)
• vāhinī (the army)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when a ruler is intent on swift action, the verse foregrounds the norm of seeking counsel from elders; it presents consultation as a legitimizing step before mobilizing force, while also showing how quickly counsel can be subordinated to an already-decided military agenda.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration to King Janamejaya, Duryodhana immediately instructs Duḥśāsana—known for prompt obedience—to consult senior figures and rapidly organize the Kuru forces for departure.