Shloka 23

यमसभावर्णनम् (Yamasabhā-varṇanam) — Nārada’s Description of Dharmarāja’s Assembly

Devanagari script

धृतराष्ट्रश्ैकशतमशीतिर्जनमेजया: । शतं च ब्रह्मुदत्तानां वीरिणामीरिणां शतम्‌

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭraś caikaśatam aśītir janamejayāḥ | śataṃ ca brahmadattānāṃ vīriṇām īriṇāṃ śatam ||

Translation

Nārada dit : «Ô Janamejaya, Dhṛtarāṣṭra eut cent quatre-vingts fils ; et parmi les Brahmadatta, il y en eut cent — des hommes renommés pour leur vigueur et leur prouesse.»

Word by Word

• धृतराष्ट्र: Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• धृतराष्ट्र: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शैक: Śaika (name/epithet)
• शैक: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अशीति: eighty
• अशीति: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशीति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• जनमेजयाः: Janamejayas (persons named Janamejaya)
• जनमेजयाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनमेजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ब्रह्मुदत्तानाम्: of the Brahmudattas (those named Brahmudatta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मुदत्त
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वीरिणाम्: of the heroes/brave ones
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• ईरिणाम्: of the impellers/rousing ones (name/epithet class)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईरिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Janamejaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Brahmadattas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse functions as a genealogical notice highlighting how dynastic power can be measured in numbers and martial reputation, while implicitly cautioning that true stability depends on dharma rather than mere lineage-size or strength.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is recounting lineage and numerical details to King Janamejaya, listing Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s progeny and noting a group called the Brahmadattas, described as vigorous and formidable.