Shloka 9

त्रिगर्त-मात्स्य-संग्रामः

The Trigarta–Matsya Engagement at Twilight

Devanagari script

तान्‌ परीप्सस्व राजेन्द्र मा नेशु: पशवस्तव । आओ तच्छृत्वा नृपति: सेनां मत्स्यानां समयोजयत्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | tān parīpsasva rājendra mā neśuḥ paśavas tava | atha tac chrutvā nṛpatiḥ senāṃ matsyānāṃ samayojayat ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O best of kings, strive to recover them, lest your cattle be lost and slip from your control.” Hearing this, the king promptly mustered the army of the Matsya realm.

Word by Word

• तान्: them (those)
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• परीप्सस्व: strive to recover / try to get back
• परीप्सस्व: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: परीप्स् (परि + आप्/ईप्स्; desiderative sense)
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Atmanepada

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• मा: do not / lest
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा
• Form: Prohibitive particle

• नेशुः: may (they) perish / be destroyed
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश्
• Form: Aorist (injunctive/benedictive-like under मा), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पशवः: cattle / animals
• पशवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• अथ: then / now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ
• Form: Conjunctive/temporal particle

• तत्: that (speech/matter)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada sense

• नृपतिः: the king
• नृपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सेनाम्: army
• सेनाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• मत्स्यानाम्: of the Matsyas
• मत्स्यानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• समयोजयत्: assembled / yoked together
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + युज्
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• King (Matsya ruler, Virāṭa implied)
• Matsya (Matsya-deśa)
• senā (army)
• paśavaḥ (cattle/livestock)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s dharma includes vigilant protection of wealth and livelihoods (here, cattle). Neglect invites loss and disorder; prompt, measured action to recover what is taken is presented as responsible governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Someone urges the king to attempt recovery of the stolen/abducted cattle so they are not lost. On hearing this counsel, the king gathers and organizes the Matsya army to respond.