Shloka 8

धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation

Devanagari script

गन्धर्वराजस्तान्‌ सर्वनत्रवीत्‌ कौरवान्‌ प्रति

Transliteration

gandharvarājas tān sarvān atravīt kauravān prati

Translation

Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Entonces el rey de los Gandharvas infundió temor en todos ellos, volviendo su fuerza intimidante contra los Kauravas. La escena muestra cómo la arrogancia y la agresión pueden atraer una rápida inversión: un poder fuera del dominio de los Kauravas frena su conducta y deja al descubierto su vulnerabilidad.

Word by Word

• गन्धर्वराजः: the king of the Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्वराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अत्रवीत्: protected / saved
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रा
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कौरवान्: the Kauravas
• कौरवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्रति: towards / against / in relation to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Gandharvarāja (king of the Gandharvas)
• Kauravas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Unchecked pride and coercive intent can be overturned by forces beyond one’s control; ethical restraint and humility are implied as safeguards against sudden humiliation and fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the Gandharva king intimidates and frightens everyone, directing his threatening action against the Kauravas, signaling a turn where the Kauravas face a superior opposing power.