Shloka 13
मरुत्तोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावः — Genealogy to Marutta and the Logistics of Royal Sacrifice
स पीड्यमानो बहुभि: क्षीणकोशाश्ववाहन: । आर्तिमार्च्छत् परां राजा सह भृत्यै: पुरेण च,उनका कोष और घोड़े आदि वाहन तो नष्ट हो ही गये थे। बहुसंख्यक शत्रुओंने एक साथ धावा करके उन्हें सताना आरम्भ कर दिया। इससे राजा सुवर्चा अपने सेवकों और पुरवासियोंसहित भारी संकटमें पड़ गये
sa pīḍyamāno bahubhiḥ kṣīṇakośāśvavāhanaḥ | ārtim ārcchat parāṃ rājā saha bhṛtyaiḥ pureṇa ca ||
Pressed hard by many foes, with his treasury depleted and his horses and other means of conveyance exhausted, the king fell into extreme distress—together with his attendants and the people of his city. The verse underscores how the collapse of resources and protection in the face of collective aggression brings not only the ruler but the entire community into peril, highlighting the ethical weight of kingship and the shared consequences of political vulnerability.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s depletion of resources and defenses in the face of many aggressors leads to severe distress not only for himself but also for his dependents and citizens, emphasizing the ethical burden of governance and the communal impact of political weakness.
The king, overwhelmed by numerous enemies and having lost wealth and transport (horses and vehicles), is driven into extreme calamity along with his attendants and the inhabitants of his city.