Shloka 5

Śakuntalā’s Satya-Discourse and the Recognition of Bharata (शकुन्तला–सत्योपदेशः; भरतप्रतिग्रहः)

Devanagari script

खड्गशक्तिधरैवीरिर्गदामुसलपाणिभि: । प्रासतोमरहस्तैश्व ययौ योधशतैर्वृत:,जब राजाने यात्रा की, उस समय खड्ग, शक्ति, गदा, मुसल, प्रास और तोमर हाथमें लिये सैकड़ों योद्धा उन्हें घेरे हुए थे

Transliteration

khaḍgaśaktidharair vīrair gadāmusalapāṇibhiḥ | prāsatomarahastaiś ca yayau yodhaśatair vṛtaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Lorsque le roi se mit en route, il avançait entouré de centaines de guerriers : des héros portant épées et lances, d’autres tenant masses et lourds bâtons, et d’autres encore armés de piques et de javelots.

Word by Word

खड्गशक्तिधरैःby sword-and-spear-bearers

वीरैःby heroes/warriors

गदामुसलपाणिभिःby those having mace and pestle in hand

प्रासतोमरहस्तैःby those whose hands held spears and tomaras

चand

ययौwent/proceeded

योधशतैःby hundreds of warriors

वृतःsurrounded/encircled

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

the king (rājā)

sword (khaḍga)

spear/lance (śakti)

mace (gadā)

pestle/club (musala)

lance (prāsa)

javelin (tomara)

warriors (yodhāḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethic of kingship: a ruler must be protected and supported by disciplined force so that governance, justice, and public safety can be maintained. Martial power is presented as an instrument of order, not mere aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

The king sets out on a journey, accompanied by a large armed escort. The text lists the weapons carried—swords, spears, maces, pestles, lances, and javelins—to convey the scale and readiness of the royal retinue.