Shloka 25

अध्याय १८४ — भैक्षविभागः, शयनविधानम्, धृष्टद्युम्नस्य निवेदनम्

Alms Distribution, Night Lodging, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s Report

Devanagari script

महाप्रसादान ब्रह्मण्यान्‌ स्वराष्ट्रपरिरक्षिण: । प्रियान्‌ सर्वस्य लोकस्य सुकृतै: कर्मभि: शुभै:,नगर और जनपदके लोगोंने जब देखा कि उक्त विमानोंमें बहुमूल्य मंचोंके ऊपर महान्‌ बल और पराक्रमसे सम्पन्न परम सौभाग्यशाली, कालागुरुसे विभूषित, महान्‌ कृपाप्रसादसे युक्त, ब्राह्मणभक्त, अपने-अपने राष्ट्रके रक्षक और शुभ पुण्यकर्मोंके प्रभावसे सम्पूर्ण जगतके प्रिय श्रेष्ठ नरपतिगण आकर बैठ गये हैं, तब राजकुमारी द्रौपदीके दर्शनका लाभ लेनेके लिये वे भी सब ओर सुखपूर्वक जा बैठे

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

mahāprasādān brahmaṇyān svarāṣṭra-parirakṣiṇaḥ |

priyān sarvasya lokasya sukṛtaiḥ karmabhiḥ śubhaiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “They were men of great graciousness and generosity, devoted to Brahmins, protectors of their own realms, and beloved by all people through their meritorious and auspicious deeds.”

Word by Word

महाप्रसादान्greatly gracious / of great favor

ब्रह्मण्यान्devoted to Brahmins

स्वराष्ट्रपरिरक्षिणःprotectors of their own kingdoms

प्रियान्dear / beloved

सर्वस्यof all

लोकस्यof the people/world

सुकृतैःby good deeds / merits

कर्मभिःby actions

शुभैःauspicious

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical kingship: rulers become truly beloved not by power alone but by auspicious conduct—protecting their realm, honoring Brahmins and sacred order, and accumulating merit through righteous deeds.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a group of exemplary rulers/men characterized by generosity, Brahmin-devotion, and protective governance, setting a moral tone for the scene by emphasizing why they are esteemed by the wider populace.