Shloka 4
द्वैतवन-सरः प्रवेशविघ्नः
Dvaītavana Lake: Obstructed Entry
वृतः कन्यागणै: सर्वैरात्मीयै: सह पुत्रकै: । मात्णां प्रेक्षमाणानां भद्रशाखश्च॒ कौसल:
vṛtaḥ kanyāgaṇaiḥ sarvair ātmīyaiḥ saha putrakaiḥ | mātṝṇāṃ prekṣamāṇānāṃ bhadraśākhaś ca kausalaḥ ||
Markandeya said: Surrounded by all the maidens of his own household, along with their children, and watched by the mothers, the prince of Kosala—Bhadraśākha—stood amidst them.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds social and familial context—how a royal figure is situated within the household community (women, children, and mothers as witnesses). It implicitly highlights the ethical weight of public and familial scrutiny in royal conduct.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes Bhadraśākha of Kosala standing or being present while surrounded by the maidens of his own household along with their children, as the mothers look on—setting a scene of domestic/royal assembly and observation.