Shloka 14

साम्ब-हरणम्, बलदेवस्य रोषः, हस्तिनापुर-आकर्षणम्

Devanagari script

उग्रसेनो ऽपि यद्य् आज्ञां कौरवाणां प्रदास्यति तद् अलं पाण्डुरैश् छत्रैर् नृपयोग्यैर् विडम्बितैः

Transliteration

ugraseno 'pi yady ājñāṃ kauravāṇāṃ pradāsyati tad alaṃ pāṇḍuraiś chatrair nṛpayogyair viḍambitaiḥ

Translation

If even Ugrasena were to submit to the Kauravas’ command, then let these pale royal umbrellas—fit only for true kings—be cast aside in mockery; for the marks of sovereignty do not befit one who bows to another.

Word by Word

• ugrasenaḥ: Ugrasena
• ugrasenaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ugrasena (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-भावक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तबोधक-अव्यय (conditional: if)

• ājñām: command
• ājñām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• kauravāṇām: of the Kauravas
• kauravāṇām: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaurava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

• pradāsyati: will give/submit
• pradāsyati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-dā (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• tat: then
• tat: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे/निपातवत् (particle: then/that being so)

• alam: enough (of)
• alam: Pratishedha/Prayojana (Prohibitive force/निषेधार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: alam (अव्यय)
• Form: पर्याप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: enough; stop)

• pāṇḍuraiḥ: white/pale
• pāṇḍuraiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṇḍura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (छत्रैः)

• chatraiḥ: with umbrellas/royal parasols
• chatraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• nṛpayogyaiḥ: fit for kings
• nṛpayogyaiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nṛpa + yogya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (nṛpa-yogya = 'fit for a king'); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (छत्रैः)

• viḍambitaiḥ: mocked/ridiculous
• viḍambitaiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viḍambita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ḍamb/डम्ब्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (छत्रैः)

Speaker

Narrative voice within the Krishna-cycle (as relayed in the Vishnu Purana’s Ansha 5 narration; traditionally framed through Parasara’s discourse to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Symbols of authority (like royal umbrellas) become ‘mockery’ when power is exercised without autonomy and dharmic legitimacy.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Do not cling to titles or status if your decisions are controlled by unjust pressures; align role and authority with integrity.

Vishishtadvaita: Śrī (royal fortune) is meaningful when aligned with the Lord’s dharmic order; external splendor without dharma is empty.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Ugrasena
• Royal insignia (chatra)

FAQs

What is the significance of the royal umbrella (chatra) in this Vishnu Purana verse?

The chatra functions as a public emblem of legitimate kingship; the verse argues that if a ruler obeys another’s command, such insignia becomes hollow—mere spectacle rather than true sovereignty.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame political authority and obedience in this passage?

Authority is treated as substantive, not ceremonial: submitting to an external power undermines one’s claim to independent rule, so outward symbols of royalty are criticized when they no longer match political reality.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in a politically charged scene, the Purana’s underlying worldview is that rightful order (dharma) and legitimate sovereignty ultimately align with the supreme governance of Vishnu; false kingship is exposed when it contradicts that order.