Shloka 14

सैन्यसंनिवेशः (Sainyasaṃniveśaḥ) — Deployment, Omens, and Yuddha-Dharma Conventions

Devanagari script

पाण्डुरेणातपत्रेण प्रियमाणेन मूर्थनि । मध्ये नागसहस्रस्य भ्रातृभि: परिवारित:,उसके मस्तकपर श्वेत छत्र तना हुआ था। वह एक हजार हाथियोंके बीचमें अपने भाइयोंसे घिरा हुआ शोभा पाता था

Transliteration

pāṇḍureṇātapatreṇa priyamāṇena mūrdhani | madhye nāgasahasrasya bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: With a white royal parasol held above his head, he appeared resplendent—surrounded by his brothers and stationed amid a thousand elephants. The image conveys sovereign dignity and the ordered might of a great host as it prepares for the coming conflict.

Word by Word

• पाण्डुरेण: with/by a white (pale) one
• पाण्डुरेण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाण्डुर
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• आतपत्रेण: with an umbrella/parasol
• आतपत्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतपत्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रियमाणेन: being delighted/pleasing
• प्रियमाणेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्री (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular, शानच् (present passive participle/atmanepada participle sense: 'being pleased/being delighted')

• मूर्धनि: on (his) head
• मूर्धनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• नागसहस्रस्य: of a thousand elephants
• नागसहस्रस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागसहस्र
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• भ्रातृभिः: by/with (his) brothers
• भ्रातृभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• परिवारितः: surrounded/encircled
• परिवारितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• ātapatra (white royal parasol)
• nāga (elephants)
• bhrātṛ (brothers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the symbolism of rightful authority and disciplined strength: royal insignia (the white parasol) and orderly companionship (brothers surrounding) present power as structured and socially recognized, setting the ethical backdrop for how such power will be tested in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a prominent warrior-king in the army: a white parasol is held over his head, and he stands amid a vast elephant contingent, attended and protected by his brothers—an image of grandeur and military readiness.