Shloka 21

शतानन्दोपदेशः

Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

कदाचित्तु महातेजा योजयित्वा वरूथिनीम्।अक्षौहीणीपरिवृत: परिचक्राम मेदिनीम्।।।।

Transliteration

kadācit tu mahātejā yojayitvā varūthinīm |

akṣauhiṇī-parivṛtaḥ paricakrāma medinīm ||

Translation

En cierta ocasión, aquel rey de gran poder y fulgor reunió su ejército; rodeado por una hueste de akṣauhiṇī, recorrió la tierra en su marcha real.

Word by Word

कदाचित्once / at some time

तुbut / indeed

महातेजाःthe great-splendored one

योजयित्वाhaving assembled / having arranged

वरूथिनीम्the army

अक्षौहीणी-परिवृतःsurrounded by an akṣauhiṇī (great host)

परिचक्रामwent around / traversed

मेदिनीम्the earth

Context

Once that highly lustrous Viswamitra having assembled his army of the magnitude of akshauhini went round the earth.

Characters & Entities

Viśvāmitra

Akṣauhiṇī

Medinī (earth)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Power is shown as organized and accountable (yojayitvā): dharma requires that force be disciplined, structured, and used within the duties of governance.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra describes a particular moment from his reign—setting up the journey that will bring him to Vasiṣṭha’s hermitage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Command and order—capacity to mobilize resources responsibly as a ruler.