Shloka 33

इन्द्रस्य पाण्डवैः समागमः

Indra’s Meeting with the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

ते पक्षिण इवापेतुर्गिरिशुड्धं महाजवा: । तस्थुस्तेषां समभ्याशे धनेश्वरपुर:सरा:,वे कुबेर आदि तीव्र वेगशाली यक्ष-राक्षस पक्षीकी तरह उड़कर गन्धमादन पर्वतके शिखरपर आये और पाण्डवोंके समीप खड़े हो गये

Transliteration

te pakṣiṇa ivāpetur giriśuddhaṃ mahājavāḥ | tasthus teṣāṃ samabhyāśe dhaneśvarapuraḥsarāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Swift as birds, they flew up to the mountain’s pure summit and, led by the Lord of Wealth, stood close by the Pāṇḍavas. The scene underscores how even formidable beings approach with order and deference when a higher authority leads, hinting at the ethic of disciplined power rather than reckless force.

Word by Word

तेthose (they)

पक्षिणःbirds

इवlike, as if

अपेतुःflew away / went forth

गिरिशुद्धम्the mountain-peak (lit. mountain-pure/clear; i.e., lofty/clean summit)

महाजवाःvery swift

तस्थुःstood

तेषाम्of them (of the Pandavas)

समभ्याशेnear, in the vicinity

धनेश्वरपुरःसराःwith the Lord of Wealth (Kubera) as their leader

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Kubera (Dhaneśvara)

Pāṇḍavas

Gandhamādana (mountain)

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?

Power and speed are portrayed as being governed by hierarchy and restraint: formidable beings act in an orderly way when led by rightful authority, suggesting an ethic of disciplined strength rather than chaotic aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of very swift beings—led by Kubera—fly up to the pure mountain summit (Gandhamādana) and then stand near the Pāṇḍavas, marking the moment of their arrival and approach.