Shloka 5

आह्वानमन्त्रप्रयोगः — Kuntī’s Invocations and the Birth-Portents of the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

तस्य वीरस्य विक्रान्तै: सहस्रशतदक्षिणै: । अश्वमेधशतैरीजे धृतराष्ट्री महामखै:,वीरवर पाण्डुके पराक्रमसे धृतराष्ट्रने बड़े-बड़े सौ अश्वमेध यज्ञ किये तथा प्रत्येक यज्ञमें एक-एक लाख स्वर्णमुद्राओंकी दक्षिणा दी

Transliteration

tasya vīrasya vikrāntaiḥ sahasraśatadakṣiṇaiḥ | aśvamedhaśatair īje dhṛtarāṣṭrī mahāmakhaiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: That heroic king, renowned for his prowess, performed a hundred Aśvamedha sacrifices—grand rites accompanied by lavish gifts—granting dakṣiṇā in the measure of hundreds and thousands. Thus he displayed royal dharma through public generosity and the solemn undertaking of great sacrificial vows.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वीरस्य: of the hero
• वीरस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• विक्रान्तैः: with valiant (means/assistants)
• विक्रान्तैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विक्रान्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सहस्रशतदक्षिणैः: having fees (dakṣiṇā) of thousands and hundreds
• सहस्रशतदक्षिणैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्रशत-दक्षिण
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अश्वमेधशतैः: by hundreds of Aśvamedha (sacrifices)
• अश्वमेधशतैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध-शत
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• ईजे: he performed sacrifice / worshipped
• ईजे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada

• धृतराष्ट्री: with Dhṛtarāṣṭrī (name/epithet)
• धृतराष्ट्री: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृतराष्ट्री
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• महामखैः: with great sacrifices
• महामखैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामख
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Aśvamedha (Horse Sacrifice)
• dakṣiṇā (sacrificial gifts/fees)
• Dhṛtarāṣṭrī (epithet/name as it appears in the verse)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a model of royal dharma: a king demonstrates legitimacy and responsibility through solemn public rites and, crucially, through generous dakṣiṇā. Ethical emphasis falls on largesse, honoring ritual obligations, and using power to sustain social-religious order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a heroic ruler performing a large series of Aśvamedha sacrifices—one hundred—each accompanied by substantial gifts to the priests. The narration underscores the king’s prowess and prosperity expressed through grand sacrificial patronage.