Shloka 21

Devanagari script

वाहनानां च विविधा: शाला: शालीक्षुगोरसै: । उपेता भरतमश्रेष्ठो व्यादिदेश च धर्मराट्‌,भरतभूषण! धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने उन राजाओंकी सवारियोंके लिये भी धान, ऊँख और गोरससे भरे-पूरे घर दिये

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca | Vāhanānāṃ ca vividhāḥ śālāḥ śālyikṣugorasaiḥ | upetā bharataśreṣṭho vyādideśa ca dharmarāṭ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The righteous king Yudhiṣṭhira, best among the Bharatas, ordered that various shelters and stables be provided for the visiting kings’ mounts and vehicles, fully supplied with rice, sugarcane, and dairy produce—so that even their retinues and animals were honored and cared for in accordance with dharma.

Word by Word

वाहनानाम्of the vehicles/mounts

चand

विविधाःvarious

शालाःhalls/sheds (stables, shelters)

शालिwith rice/paddy

इक्षुwith sugarcane

गोरसैःwith milk/curds etc. (cow-products)

उपेताःprovided with; furnished with

भरतमश्रेष्ठःthe best of the Bharatas

व्यादिदेशordered; directed

चand

धर्मराट्the king of dharma (Dharmaraja)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja/Dharmarāṭ, Bharataśreṣṭha)

vāhana (mounts/vehicles)

śālā (shelters/stables)

śāli (rice)

ikṣu (sugarcane)

gorasa (dairy produce)

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 dharmic ruler practices hospitality comprehensively: honoring guests includes caring for their attendants, animals, and logistical needs, not merely offering ceremonial respect.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Ashvamedha-related gatherings, Yudhiṣṭhira orders well-stocked shelters for the visiting kings’ mounts and conveyances, supplying staple foods and dairy to ensure orderly, respectful accommodation.