Shloka 18

Śiśupāla’s Protest Against the Arghya to Kṛṣṇa (शिशुपाल-आक्षेपः)

Devanagari script

ददुस्तेषामावसथान्‌ धर्मराजस्य शासनात्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | dadus teṣām āvasathān dharmarājasya śāsanāt | dharmarājakī ājñā se prabandhakōṃ ne unake ṭhaharane ke liye uttama bhavana diye, jo bahut adhika bhojana-sāmagrī se sampanna the | rājan! una gharoṃ ke bhītara snāna ke liye bāvaliyāṃ banī thīṃ aura ve bhānti-bhānti ke vṛkṣoṃ se bhī suśobhita the | dharmaputra yudhiṣṭhira una sabhī mahātmā nareśoṃ kā svāgata-satkāra karate the |

Translation

Waiśampāyana berkata: Atas perintah Dharmarāja, disediakan bagi mereka tempat bermalam—kediaman-kediaman unggul yang berlimpah perbekalan. Wahai Raja, di dalam rumah-rumah itu ada sumur/kolam bertangga untuk mandi, dan semuanya makin elok dihiasi aneka pepohonan. Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira terus menyambut serta memuliakan semua raja berhati luhur itu.

Word by Word

• ददुः: they gave
• ददुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (दाने)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत), 3, plural, परस्मैपद

• तेषाम्: to/for them (of those)
• तेषाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• आवसथान्: lodgings, residences
• आवसथान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवसथ (आवास/निवास)
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• धर्मराजस्य: of Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira)
• धर्मराजस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• शासनात्: from/according to the command
• शासनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन
• Form: neuter, ablative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira
• mahātmā nareśāḥ (the assembled kings)
• āvasatha (lodgings/residences)
• snāna-bāvalī (bathing wells/stepwells)
• vṛkṣāḥ (trees)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights rājadharma expressed through hospitality: a righteous king ensures guests and allied rulers are housed comfortably, provided with necessities, and honored respectfully—ethical governance shown through care, order, and generosity.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the kings have assembled, Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja) orders that they be given fine accommodations with ample provisions and amenities like bathing facilities and pleasant surroundings; he personally continues to receive and honor them.