Shloka 40

Droṇa’s Ācārya-Dakṣiṇā: Capture of Drupada and Division of Pāñcāla (द्रोण-आचार्यदक्षिणा)

Devanagari script

उपस्थानगहै: शुभ्रेवलभीभिश्न शोभितम्‌ । गवाक्षकैस्तथा जालैर्यन्त्रै: सांचारिकेरपि

Transliteration

upasthānagṛhaiḥ śubhra-valabhībhiś ca śobhitam | gavākṣakaiḥ tathā jālair yantraiḥ sāñcārikair api ||

Translation

ആ ഉദ്യാനം മനോഹരമായ ഉപസ്ഥാനഗൃഹങ്ങളാലും വെളുത്ത വലഭി-ചജ്ജകളാലും, ഗവാക്ഷങ്ങളും ജാലികളും, കൂടാതെ ഇങ്ങോട്ടും അങ്ങോട്ടും നീക്കാവുന്ന ജലതളിക്കൽ യന്ത്രങ്ങളാലും ശോഭിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• उपस्थानगृहैः: by/with assembly-halls (places of attendance)
• उपस्थानगृहैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपस्थानगृह
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शुभ्र-एवलभीभिः: with white balconies/overhangs
• शुभ्र-एवलभीभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ्र-एवलभी
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• शोभितम्: adorned, beautified
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• गवाक्षकैः: with windows/arched openings
• गवाक्षकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गवाक्षक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तथा: and also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• जालैः: with lattices/nets
• जालैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• यन्त्रैः: with devices/engines
• यन्त्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सञ्चारिकैः: movable/portable
• सञ्चारिकैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सञ्चारिक
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• royal garden (udyāna)
• reception/assembly halls (upasthāna-gṛha)
• balconies/eaves (valabhī)
• windows (gavākṣa)
• lattices/screens (jāla)
• portable sprinkling devices (sāñcārika-yantra)
• wells/stepwells (bāvalī/bāvī implied by Hindi gloss)
• ponds (tadāga implied by Hindi gloss)
• lotuses (kamala implied by Hindi gloss)
• flowers (puṣpa implied by Hindi gloss)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights the ideal of cultivated kingship: prosperity expressed through order, cleanliness, artistry, and care for public/royal spaces. Ethical emphasis is indirect—good governance is reflected in well-maintained, harmonious environments rather than mere power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a royal pleasure-garden and recreation-building being readied and beautified—architectural features, decorative painting, waterworks, and seasonal flowers together create an atmosphere of refined splendor.