Shloka 15

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Procession, Encampment (Niveśa), and Auspicious Timing for Ritual Action

Devanagari script

रक्षन्ते ये च तद्‌ द्रव्यं किन्नरा रौद्रदर्शना:

Transliteration

rakṣante ye ca tad dravyaṃ kinnarā raudradarśanāḥ

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “And those fearsome-looking Kinnaras keep watch over that wealth.”

Word by Word

• रक्षन्ते: they protect/guard
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथम, बहुवचन

• ये: who/which (those who)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• द्रव्यं: wealth/substance/thing
• द्रव्यं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• किन्नराः: Kinnaras (a class of celestial beings)
• किन्नराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: किन्नर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• रौद्रदर्शनाः: of fierce/terrible appearance
• रौद्रदर्शनाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्रदर्शन
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kinnaras
• dravya (wealth/treasure)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the idea that valuable resources are not left unprotected; they are guarded by formidable custodians. Ethically, it underscores responsible stewardship—wealth and power demand vigilant protection and disciplined oversight.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator, Vaiśampāyana, describes that a certain wealth or valuable property is being guarded, and the guardians are Kinnaras depicted as terrifying in appearance, emphasizing the difficulty or danger of approaching that guarded treasure.