Shloka 24

Śiśupāla’s Protest Against the Arghya to Kṛṣṇa (शिशुपाल-आक्षेपः)

Devanagari script

विश्रान्तास्ते ततो5पश्यन्‌ भूमिपा भूरिदक्षिणम्‌

Transliteration

viśrāntās te tato ’paśyan bhūmipā bhūridakṣiṇam |

Translation

Tras descansar, aquellos reyes contemplaron al gran dador de dones (dakṣiṇā), Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, rodeado de numerosos miembros reunidos. ¡Oh Janamejaya! Entonces el pabellón sacrificial, colmado de reyes, brāhmaṇas y grandes ṛṣis, resplandecía como el cielo atestado de dioses, realzando el ideal ético de la generosidad real y la santidad de un rito debidamente concurrido.

Word by Word

• विश्रान्ताः: rested
• विश्रान्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्रान्त (वि+श्रान्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अपश्यन्: saw
• अपश्यन्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• भूमिपाः: kings (protectors of the earth)
• भूमिपाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमिप (भूमि+प)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भूरिदक्षिणम्: one giving abundant gifts (large dakṣiṇā)
• भूरिदक्षिणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरिदक्षिण (भूरि+दक्षिण)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja)
• kings (bhūmipāḥ)
• brāhmaṇas
• maharṣis
• yajñamaṇḍapa (sacrificial pavilion)
• svarga (heaven)
• devatās (gods)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds dharmic kingship through generosity: abundant dakṣiṇā and a well-attended sacrifice symbolize righteous rule, social harmony, and the ethical duty of a king to support sacred learning and ritual specialists.

What is happening in the narrative?

After resting, the visiting kings see Yudhiṣṭhira—renowned for lavish ritual gifts—surrounded by many assembly members; the sacrificial pavilion is depicted as radiant and heaven-like because it is filled with kings, brāhmaṇas, and great seers.