Shloka 6

Devanagari script

विराटवाक्येन च तेन चोदिता नरा विराटस्य सुशीघ्रगामिन: । उपेत्य कौन्तेयमथाब्रुवंस्तदा यथा स राजावदताच्युतानुजम्‌,राजा विराटके पूर्वोक्त आदेशसे प्रेरित हो दरबारीलोग शीघ्रतापूर्वक धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरके छोटे भाई कुन्तीपुत्र भीमसेनके समीप गये तथा राजाने जैसे कहा था, उसी प्रकार उनका परिचय पूछा

Transliteration

virāṭavākyena ca tena coditā narā virāṭasya suśīghragāminaḥ | upetya kaunteyam athābruvaṃs tadā yathā sa rājāvadatācyutānujam ||

Translation

Urged on by King Virāṭa’s words, his men—swift in their movements—went at once to the son of Kuntī. Approaching him, they addressed him exactly as the king had instructed, seeking his identification and particulars within the bounds of courtly propriety.

Word by Word

विराटवाक्येनby Virāṭa's words/command

चand

तेनby him/thereby

चोदिताःurged/commanded

नराःmen (courtiers)

विराटस्यof Virāṭa

सुशीघ्रगामिनःvery swift-going

उपेत्यhaving approached

कौन्तेयम्Kuntī's son (here: Bhīma/Yudhiṣṭhira per context)

अथthen

अब्रुवन्they said

तदाat that time

यथाas/just as

सःhe

राजाthe king

अवदत्said

अच्युतानुजम्the younger brother of Acyuta (Bhīma, younger than Kṛṣṇa in epithet usage varies; contextually: Bhīma as younger of the addressed figure)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Virāṭa

Virāṭa's attendants/courtiers (narāḥ)

Kaunteya (son of Kuntī; contextually Bhīmasena)

Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa, by epithet)

Acyutānuja (Balarāma, by epithet)

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?

The verse highlights dharma in governance: officials should execute a ruler’s lawful instructions promptly and with decorum, especially when verifying a newcomer’s identity in a royal setting.

What is happening in the narrative?

After King Virāṭa gives instructions, his attendants quickly approach the son of Kuntī (in context, Bhīma) and question him as directed, seeking his introduction/identity in the courtly manner.