Shloka 16

अग्निभय-प्रसङ्गे मन्दपालस्य शोकः

Mandapāla’s Lament amid the Threat of Fire

Devanagari script

दिधक्षत्रिव तत्र सम संस्थितो मूर्थ््यशोभत । ध्वजे भूतानि तत्रासन्‌ विविधानि महान्ति च

Transliteration

didhakṣatriva tatra saṃ saṃsthito mūrthy aśobhat | dhvaje bhūtāni tatrāsan vividhāni mahānti ca ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: There, standing firmly in place, he shone with a commanding presence like a mighty kṣatriya. Upon the banner were displayed many great and varied figures—portents and emblems that proclaimed power and inspired awe.

Word by Word

• दिधक्षत्रिव: Didhakṣatri (proper name)
• दिधक्षत्रिव: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिधक्षत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• सम्: together; completely (prefix/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्

• संस्थितः: standing; stationed; having taken position
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु) / संस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head; at the top
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अशोभत: shone; was splendid
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ध्वजे: on the banner/flag
• ध्वजे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भूतानि: beings; creatures; figures
• भूतानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• आसन्: were
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• विविधानि: various; diverse
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• महान्ति: great; large
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• dhvaja (banner/standard)
• bhūtāni (figures/beings on the banner)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how outward symbols—stance, bearing, and the banner’s emblems—communicate authority and inspire confidence or fear. In the epic’s ethical world, such signs are tied to kṣatriya duty: to uphold order through visible strength and disciplined presence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a figure standing firmly and shining with warrior-like majesty, while the banner nearby bears many large and varied figures. The scene emphasizes martial display and the atmosphere of power, as conveyed through standards and their symbolic imagery.