Mahabharata 4.13.17 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 17

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 13 — Kīcaka’s Proposition and Draupadī’s Dharmic Refusal

Devanagari script

सिंहस्कन्धकटिग्रीवा: स्ववदाता मनस्विन: । असकृल्लब्धलक्षास्ते रड़े पार्थिवसंनिधौ

Transliteration

siṁhaskandhakaṭigrīvāḥ svavadātā manasvinaḥ | asakṛl labdhalakṣās te raṅge pārthivasaṁnidhau ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : «Leurs épaules, leurs hanches et leur cou étaient comme ceux des lions — rayonnants de leur splendeur naturelle et doués d’un esprit élevé. À maintes reprises, sous les yeux mêmes du roi, ils avaient remporté honneur et succès dans l’arène.»

Word by Word

• सिंहस्कन्धकटिग्रीवाः: having shoulders, waist and neck like a lion
• सिंहस्कन्धकटिग्रीवाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंह-स्कन्ध-कटि-ग्रीवा
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्ववदाताः: of pure/bright (good) fame; spotless
• स्ववदाताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-वदात
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मनस्विनः: high-spirited, resolute
• मनस्विनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• असकृत्: many times, repeatedly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असकृत्

• लब्धलक्षाः: having attained the mark/goal; having won the prize
• लब्धलक्षाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लब्ध-लक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रङ्गे: in the arena (wrestling-ground)
• रङ्गे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• पार्थिवसंनिधौ: in the presence of the king
• पार्थिवसंनिधौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव-संनिधि
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• pārthiva (the king)
• raṅga (arena/akhāḍā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Excellence is not merely claimed but demonstrated through repeated, public tests; true worth combines outward capability (strength and skill) with inward qualities (purity of conduct, high spirit) that earn lasting reputation.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a group of formidable men—lion-built, radiant, and resolute—who have repeatedly proven their prowess by winning in the arena before the king, establishing their standing at court.