Shloka 37

धृष्टद्युम्नेन समागतक्षत्रियगणगणना

Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s Enumeration of Assembled Kṣatriyas

Devanagari script

त॑ प्रजा: प्रतिमोदन्त्य: सर्वा: प्रत्युदूगतास्तदा । विपाप्मानं महात्मानं दिवौकस इवेश्वरम्‌,अपने पापरहित महात्मा नरेशका आगमन सुनकर अयोध्याकी सारी प्रजा अत्यन्त प्रसन्न हो उनकी अगवानीके लिये ठीक उसी तरह बाहर निकल आयी, जैसे देवतालोग अपने स्वामी इन्द्रका स्वागत करते हैं

Transliteration

tāḥ prajāḥ pratimodantyaḥ sarvāḥ pratyudūgatās tadā | vipāpmānaṃ mahātmānaṃ divaukasa iveśvaram ||

Translation

Then all the citizens, filled with joy, came out to welcome him. Seeing the sinless, great-souled king, they went forth as the dwellers of heaven would go to greet their lord—like the gods welcoming Indra—thus expressing public reverence for a ruler whose moral purity and majesty inspire collective trust.

Word by Word

ताःthose

प्रजाःsubjects, people

प्रतिमोदन्त्यःrejoice, are delighted

सर्वाःall

प्रत्युदूगताःhaving come out to meet (having gone forth to welcome)

तदाthen

विपाप्मानम्sinless, free from evil

महात्मानम्the great-souled one

दिवौकसःthe dwellers in heaven (gods)

इवlike, as

ईश्वरम्the lord, master

Speaker

गन्धर्व उवाच

Characters & Entities

prajāḥ (citizens/subjects)

mahātmā nṛpa (the great-souled king, implied)

divaukasaḥ (gods)

Indra (implied by comparison: 'their lord')

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s moral integrity (being 'vipāpmā') naturally generates public confidence and reverence; ethical kingship is portrayed as a stabilizing force that draws willing support from the people.

What is happening in the narrative?

The people collectively come out to greet and welcome the arriving king, and the scene is elevated through a simile: their reception resembles the gods welcoming Indra, emphasizing the king’s stature and perceived righteousness.