Shloka 17

Devanagari script

प्रकीर्णमूर्थजा राजन्‌ यक्षाधिपतिमन्रुवन्‌ गदापरिघनिस्त्रिंशतोमरप्रासयोधिन:

Transliteration

prakīrṇamūrdhajā rājan yakṣādhipatim anvruvan gadā-parigha-nistriṁśa-tomara-prāsa-yodhināḥ

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: O King, with their hair dishevelled and in confusion, they approached the lord of the Yakṣas—armed for battle with maces, iron clubs, swords, javelins, and spears—signalling a tense, duty-bound readiness to defend their order and authority.

Word by Word

• प्रकीर्णमूर्धजाः: those whose hair was dishevelled/scattered
• प्रकीर्णमूर्धजाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकीर्णमूर्धज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यक्षाधिपतिम्: the lord of the Yakṣas
• यक्षाधिपतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्षाधिपति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अन्वब्रुवन्: they addressed/followed with words
• अन्वब्रुवन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Plural

• गदा: with a mace
• गदा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• परिघ: with an iron club/bar
• परिघ: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिघ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• निस्त्रिंश: with a sword
• निस्त्रिंश: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: निस्त्रिंश
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• तोमर: with a javelin
• तोमर: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोमर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रास: with a spear
• प्रास: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रास
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• योधिनः: warriors/fighters
• योधिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: योधिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• rājan (Janamejaya, implied addressee)
• yakṣādhipati (Kubera/Vaiśravaṇa)
• Yakṣas (implied group of warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined readiness in the face of disturbance: even amid visible distress (dishevelled appearance), those responsible for protection approach their leader equipped to uphold their duty and preserve order.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of Yakṣa warriors, visibly unsettled, go to their lord (Kubera/Vaiśravaṇa) carrying various weapons, indicating an impending confrontation or urgent report requiring martial response.