Shloka 23

Devanagari script

तमागतं महेष्वासं धार्तराष्ट्री जनाधिप: । प्रत्युदूग्म्य महाराज सभ्रातृपितृबान्धव:

Transliteration

tam āgataṁ maheṣvāsaṁ dhārtarāṣṭrī janādhipaḥ | pratyudūgmya mahārāja sabhrātṛpitṛbāndhavaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: When that mighty archer arrived, the Dhārtarāṣṭra king—O great ruler—went forth to receive him, accompanied by his brothers, elders (as fathers), and kinsmen. The scene underscores the public etiquette of honoring a formidable guest and the political weight of welcoming a warrior in the presence of one’s entire family circle.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आगतम्: arrived, come
• आगतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महेष्वासम्: great archer
• महेष्वासम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धार्तराष्ट्री: son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• धार्तराष्ट्री: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्री
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जनाधिपः: king, lord of people
• जनाधिपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनाधिप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रत्युदूग्म्य: having gone forth to meet
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति-उद्-गम्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), irregular/epic spelling for प्रत्युद्गम्य

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• स: he
• स: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भ्रातृ: with (his) brother
• भ्रातृ: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• पितृ: with (his) father
• पितृ: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• बान्धवैः: with kinsmen/relatives
• बान्धवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhārtarāṣṭra king (Kuru ruler of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s line)
• the mighty archer (maheṣvāsa, unnamed in this verse)
• brothers
• elders (pitṛ)
• kinsmen (bāndhava)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya etiquette and political prudence: a ruler should honor a powerful arrival publicly and appropriately, supported by his family and elders, thereby affirming respect, unity, and strategic awareness.

What is happening in the narrative?

An eminent archer arrives, and the Dhārtarāṣṭra king goes out to meet him formally, accompanied by his brothers, elder figures, and relatives—signaling a significant reception with social and political implications.