Shloka 47

Devanagari script

ततो महीं सागरमेखलां त्वं सपत्तनां ग्रामवर्ती समृद्धाम्‌

Transliteration

tato mahīṃ sāgaramekhalāṃ tvaṃ sapatnanāṃ grāmavartī samṛddhām

Translation

そののち汝は、海を帯としてめぐらす大地を得よう。都と村々は栄え、富は満ち、たとえなお競う者が残ろうとも。ここに示されるのは王権の責務の理想である—統治は征服のみによって量られるのではなく、争われる権勢のただ中で国土の繁栄を保ちうるかによって量られる。

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from there/then')

• महीं: the earth
• महीं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सागर-मेखलाम्: girdled by the ocean
• सागर-मेखलाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सागरमेखला
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Second person, Nominative, Singular

• स-पत्तनाम्: together with its cities
• स-पत्तनाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सपत्तन
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ग्राम-वर्तीम्: having villages (in it); consisting of villages
• ग्राम-वर्तीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रामवर्तिन्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• समृद्धाम्: prosperous; well-endowed
• समृद्धाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समृद्ध
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular (past passive participle used adjectivally)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• मही (the earth)
• सागर (the ocean)
• ग्राम (villages)
• पत्तन (cities/ports)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames kingship as stewardship of a complete realm—'earth girdled by the ocean'—and implies that true rule is validated by sustaining prosperity (cities and villages thriving) even amid rivalry. Power is ethically meaningful when it secures welfare, not merely when it defeats opponents.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya continues his report to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, describing the prospect of dominion over the whole earth—rich in settlements and resources—set against the backdrop of ongoing conflict and competing claimants.