Shloka 43

Śatrughna’s Entry into Ahicchatrā

Temptation of Sumada and the Goddess’s Boon

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा प्राप्तं पुरी पार्श्वे हयमेधहयोत्तमम् । त्वां च सर्वैर्महाराजैः सेवितांघ्रिं महामतिम्

Transliteration

śrutvā prāptaṃ purī pārśve hayamedhahayottamam | tvāṃ ca sarvairmahārājaiḥ sevitāṃghriṃ mahāmatim

Translation

アシュヴァメーダの最上の馬が都の傍らに到来したと聞き、また汝こそ大いなる賢者、諸大王がその御足を礼拝する御方であると聞いて、彼らは近づいた。

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (gerund/absolutive)

• प्राप्तम्: arrived, obtained
• प्राप्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (कर्मणि) ‘arrived/obtained’

• पुरी: city
• पुरी: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पार्श्वे: near, at the side
• पार्श्वे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• हयमेध: horse-sacrifice (Aśvamedha)
• हयमेध: Samasa-purvapada (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय + मेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (समास-पूर्वपद)

• हय: horse
• हय: Samasa-purvapada (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (समास-पूर्वपद)

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (हय-उत्तम); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (महाराजैः)

• महाराजैः: by great kings
• महाराजैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सेवित: served, attended
• सेवित: Samasa-purvapada (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP) ‘सेवित’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (समास-पूर्वपद)

• अङ्घ्रिम्: feet
• अङ्घ्रिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सेवित-अङ्घ्रि = ‘whose feet are served’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महामतिम्: great-minded, very wise
• महामतिम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (त्वाम्)

Speaker

Unspecified (context-dependent narration within the dialogue of the chapter)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: city

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्वैर्महाराजैः = सर्वैः + महाराजैः. sevitāṃghriṃ is resolved as सेवित + अङ्घ्रिम् (sandhi: त + अ = ता; orthographic in IAST shows āṃghriṃ). hayamedhahayottamam is treated as हयमेध + हय + उत्तमम्.

Characters & Entities

• Aśvamedha (horse sacrifice)
• mahārājas (great kings)

FAQs

What is the Aśvamedha horse in this verse?

It refers to the consecrated horse released for the Aśvamedha royal sacrifice; its arrival near a city signals a significant political-ritual event tied to sovereignty.

How does this verse express reverence and authority?

By describing the addressed person as “sevitāṅghri”—one whose feet are served by all great kings—indicating exceptional spiritual or royal eminence acknowledged widely.

What ethical or devotional lesson is implied by “serving the feet” (aṅghri-sevā)?

It highlights humility and honor toward a worthy superior (guru, sage, or righteous ruler), presenting reverent service as a marker of dharmic conduct.