Shloka 21

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Procession, Encampment (Niveśa), and Auspicious Timing for Ritual Action

Devanagari script

तेषां प्रयास्यतां तत्र मज़लानि शुभान्यथ । प्राहु: प्रहष्टमनसो द्विजाग्रया नागराश्न ते,जब वे यात्राके लिये उद्यत हुए, उस समय समस्त श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणों और नागरिकोंने प्रसन्नचित्त होकर उनके लिये शुभ मंगल-पाठ किया

Transliteration

teṣāṁ prayāsyatāṁ tatra maṅgalāni śubhāny atha | prāhuḥ prahṛṣṭa-manaso dvijāgryā nāgarāś ca te ||

Translation

Comme ils se préparaient à quitter ce lieu, les plus éminents des deux-fois-nés, avec les gens de la cité, proclamèrent avec joie des bénédictions de bon augure pour eux.

Word by Word

तेषाम्of them / for them

प्रयास्यताम्when they were about to depart / would go forth

तत्रthere

मङ्गलानिauspicious benedictions / auspicious words

शुभानिauspicious, favorable

अथthen

प्राहुःthey said / uttered

प्रहृष्टमनसःhaving delighted minds; joyful-hearted

द्विजाग्र्याःforemost of the twice-born (brahmins)

नागराःcitizens / townsmen

चand

तेto them / for them

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana (speaker)

dvijāgryāḥ (foremost Brahmins)

nāgarāḥ (citizens/townspeople)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is sustained not only by rulers and heroes but also by society’s collective conduct: elders and citizens uphold auspicious order through blessings, goodwill, and proper ritual speech at key transitions like departures.

What is happening in the narrative?

As the party is about to set out, leading Brahmins and the townspeople, pleased and supportive, recite auspicious benedictions—formally marking the departure with communal approval and ritual propriety.