Shloka 16

Devanagari script

सन्नद्धा धन्विन: सर्वे प्राद्रवन्‌ नरपुड़रवा: । ब्राह्मणार्थे यतन्तस्ते शीघ्रमन्‍्वगमन्‌ मृगम्‌

Transliteration

sannaddhā dhanvinaḥ sarve prādravan narapuṅgavāḥ | brāhmaṇārthe yatantas te śīghram anvagaman mṛgam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: All those foremost of men, armed and bearing bows, rushed forth. Striving for the sake of the brāhmaṇa, they swiftly pursued the deer.

Word by Word

• सन्नद्धाः: armed, equipped
• सन्नद्धाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्नद्ध (सम् + नह्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• धन्विनः: bowmen
• धन्विनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्राद्रवन्: ran forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + द्रु
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural

• नरपुङ्गवाः: bulls among men, best of men
• नरपुङ्गवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरपुङ्गव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ब्राह्मणार्थे: for the sake of the brahmin
• ब्राह्मणार्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मणार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• यतन्तः: striving, making effort
• यतन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: यत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र

• अन्वगमन्: followed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + गम्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural

• मृगम्: the deer/animal
• मृगम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• narapuṅgavāḥ (foremost men/warriors)
• brāhmaṇa
• mṛga (deer)
• bows (dhanus)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as prompt, energetic action undertaken to uphold and protect a brāhmaṇa’s welfare—an ethical ideal where strength and readiness are directed toward righteous service rather than personal gain.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of leading warriors, fully armed and carrying bows, rush out and quickly chase after a deer, doing so specifically in response to a brāhmaṇa-related purpose or need.