Shloka 14

कुम्भकर्णवधः — Kumbhakarṇa’s Fall and the Renewal of the Engagement

Devanagari script

यः सर्वरधर्मार्थविनि श्षयज्ञो भयार्तानां भयहर्ता मनीषी । यस्योत्तमं रूपमाहु: पृथिव्यां यं पाण्डवा: परिरक्षन्ति सर्वे

Transliteration

yaḥ sarva-dharma-artha-viniścaya-jño bhayārtānāṁ bhaya-hartā manīṣī | yasyottamaṁ rūpam āhuḥ pṛthivyāṁ yaṁ pāṇḍavāḥ parirakṣanti sarve ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「あらゆるダルマと世の目的とを究極に裁断する見識を備え、恐れに苦しむ者から恐怖を取り去る賢者——その姿は地上で最も優れていると称えられる——その者を、パーンダヴァたちは皆そろって守護する。」

Word by Word

यःwho

सर्व-धर्म-अर्थ-विनिश्चय-ज्ञःknower of the determinations of all dharma and artha

भय-आर्तानाम्of those distressed by fear

भय-हर्ताremover of fear

मनीषीwise man, sage

यस्यwhose

उत्तमम्excellent, best

रूपम्form, appearance

आहुःthey say

पृथिव्याम्on earth

यम्whom

पाण्डवाःthe Pandavas

परिरक्षन्तिprotect all around, guard

सर्वेall (of them)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pāṇḍavas

Pṛthivī (earth)

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?

True excellence is linked with ethical discernment (knowing the right conclusion of dharma and artha) and with protective compassion—removing fear from the fearful. Wisdom is shown not merely in knowledge but in safeguarding others.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a highly esteemed person—praised as supreme in form and character—whom the Pāṇḍavas collectively guard, emphasizing his importance and the protective role of the Pāṇḍavas toward a worthy figure.