Shloka 5

Adhyaya 20 — Ritadhvaja’s Companionship with the Naga Princes and the Origin of the Horse Kuvalaya

Sanskrit

तथैवाक्षविनोदैश्च शस्त्रास्त्रविनयेषु च ।

योग्यानि युद्धनागाश्व-स्यान्दनाभ्यासतत्परः ॥

Transliteration

tathaivākṣavinodaiś ca śastrāstravinayeṣu ca | yogyāni yuddhanāgāśva-syandanābhyāsatatparaḥ ||

Translation

De même, il se divertissait aux jeux de dés et s’exerçait aux disciplines des armes et des traits—pratiquant avec assiduité ce qui convient : éléphants de guerre, chevaux et chars.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/so')

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of emphasis)

• अक्षविनोदैः: with dice-games/amusements
• अक्षविनोदैः: साधन/सह (Karaṇa/Saha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षविनोद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('dice/amusement with dice')

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• शस्त्रास्त्रविनयेषु: in the disciplines/training of weapons and missiles
• शस्त्रास्त्रविनयेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location-domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र + अस्त्र + विनय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद + तत्पुरुष ('training in weapons and missiles')

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• योग्यानि: suitable/fit (activities)
• योग्यानि: कर्म (Karma/Object; implied)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with implied 'कर्माणि/कार्याणि')

• युद्धनागाश्व-स्यान्दनाभ्यासतत्परः: devoted to practicing (with) war-elephants, horses, and chariots
• युद्धनागाश्व-स्यान्दनाभ्यासतत्परः: कर्तृविशेषण (Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्ध + नाग + अश्व + स्यान्दन + अभ्यास + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि ('one devoted to practice with war-elephants, horses, and chariots')

Speakers

• Narrator

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Kshatriya dharma (implicit)
• Martial discipline
• Royal pastimes

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse sketches the kṣatriya ideal: recreation is permitted, but must be framed by discipline (vinaya) and readiness for protection of the realm.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita narrative; it supports Dharma instruction tangentially by portraying normative royal duties and training.

What is the esoteric significance?

Weapons and vehicles can be read as instruments of controlled power; ‘vinaya’ is the key—power without discipline becomes adharma.