Shloka 6

Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 58 — Saṃjaya’s Audience and Kṛṣṇa’s Deterrent Counsel (संजय-प्रवेशः कृष्णवाक्यं च)

Devanagari script

नैकरत्नविचित्रं तु काड्चन॑ं महदासनम्‌ | विविधास्तरणाकीर्ण यत्रासातामरिंदमौ

Transliteration

naikaratnavicitraṁ tu kāñcanaṁ mahad-āsanam | vividhāstaraṇākīrṇaṁ yatrāsātām arindamau ||

Translation

Dijo Sañjaya: El gran asiento en el que se sentaban aquellos dos héroes, domadores de enemigos, era de oro. Adornado con gemas de muchas clases, resplandecía con un esplendor variado, y estaba cubierto con finos tapices de distintos tipos: señales de dignidad regia y de la gravedad formal del consejo donde se sopesaban decisiones trascendentales sobre la paz y la guerra.

Word by Word

• नैक: many (not one)
• नैक: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न + एक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रत्न: jewel
• रत्न: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विचित्रम्: variegated, ornate
• विचित्रम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तु: but, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• काञ्चनम्: golden
• काञ्चनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• महत्: great, large
• महत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आसनम्: seat, throne
• आसनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विविध: various
• विविध: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आस्तरण: covering, bedding
• आस्तरण: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्तरण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आकीर्णम्: strewn, covered (with)
• आकीर्णम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + √कॄ (किरति) / आकीर्ण (ppp)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• आसाताम्: sat (the two sat)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आस् (आस्ते)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Dual, Ātmanepada

• अरिंदमौ: the two enemy-subduers
• अरिंदमौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• golden throne/seat (mahād-āsana)
• gems (ratna)
• coverings/beddings (āstaraṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how outward royal splendor—gold, gems, and rich coverings—frames grave political deliberations. It implicitly contrasts material magnificence with the ethical weight of decisions that affect dharma, peace, and the lives of many.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the setting in the royal assembly: two renowned, enemy-subduing heroes are seated on a large golden throne adorned with many gems and covered with various fine spreads, establishing the majesty and formality of the scene.