Shloka 14

Kaurava Mobilization at Kurukṣetra (Duryodhana Orders War Preparations) / कुरुक्षेत्रे धार्तराष्ट्र-सैन्यसज्जा

Devanagari script

श्लाघ्य: पार्थिववंशस्य प्रमुखे वाहिनीपति: । पुत्रपौत्रै: परिवृत: शतशाख इव द्रुम:

Transliteration

ślāghyaḥ pārthivavaṁśasya pramukhe vāhinīpatiḥ | putrapautraiḥ parivṛtaḥ śataśākha iva drumaḥ ||

Translation

તે પાર્થિવવંશનો શ્લાઘ્ય પુરુષ, અગ્રભાગે વાહિનીપતિ હતો. પુત્ર-પૌત્રોથી પરિભ્રમિત તે શતશાખાવાળા વૃક્ષ સમાન શોભતો હતો.

Word by Word

• श्लाघ्यः: praiseworthy
• श्लाघ्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लाघ्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पार्थिव-वंशस्य: of the royal lineage
• पार्थिव-वंशस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिववंश
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• प्रमुखे: in the forefront / at the head
• प्रमुखे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमुख
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• वाहिनी-पतिः: commander of an army
• वाहिनी-पतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहिनीपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुत्र-पौत्रैः: by/with sons and grandsons
• पुत्र-पौत्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रपौत्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• परिवृतः: surrounded
• परिवृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि√वृ (परिवृत)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शत-शाखः: having a hundred branches
• शत-शाखः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शतशाख
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like / as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• द्रुमः: tree
• द्रुमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• vāhinīpati (army commander)
• pārthiva-vaṁśa (royal dynasty)
• sons
• grandsons
• tree (druma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises leadership rooted in dharmic kingship: a worthy commander stands foremost, supported by an ordered lineage. The image of a many-branched tree suggests stability, continuity, and responsibility—power is strengthened when family and followers are integrated under righteous leadership.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a prominent army commander positioned at the front of the host, attended by his sons and grandsons. The scene emphasizes martial readiness and the visible strength of a royal house through its descendants and retainers.