Shloka 13

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 193 — Hastināpura Mantra: Duryodhana’s Proposals to Divide the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

उच्चावचं पार्थिवभोजनीयं पात्रीषु जाम्बूनदराजतीषु । दासाश्ष दास्यश्व सुमृष्टवेषा: सम्भोजकाश्षाप्युपजहुरज्ञम्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

ucchāvacaṃ pārthivabhojanīyaṃ pātrīṣu jāmbūnadarajatīṣu |

dāsāś ca dāsyaś ca sumṛṣṭaveṣāḥ sambhojakāś cāpy upajahur ajñam ||

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അപ്പോൾ വൃത്തിയുള്ള മനോഹരവേഷം ധരിച്ച ദാസന്മാരും ദാസിമാരും സേവകരും സ്വർണ്ണ-വെള്ളി പാത്രങ്ങളിൽ രാജാക്കന്മാർക്ക് യോജ്യമായ പലവിധ സാധാരണവും വിശേഷവുമായ ഭക്ഷണസാമഗ്രികൾ കൊണ്ടുവന്ന് അവരുടെ മുമ്പിൽ വച്ചു.

Word by Word

• उच्चावचम्: various (high and low; diverse)
• उच्चावचम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्चावच
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पार्थिवभोजनीयम्: fit to be eaten by kings (royal fare)
• पार्थिवभोजनीयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव-भोजनीय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पात्रीषु: in vessels/dishes
• पात्रीषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• जाम्बूनदराजतीषु: of gold and silver
• जाम्बूनदराजतीषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाम्बूनद-रजत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• दासाः: male servants
• दासाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• दास्यः: female servants
• दास्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दासी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सुमृष्टवेषाः: wearing well-polished/clean attire; well-dressed
• सुमृष्टवेषाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-मृष्ट-वेष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सम्भोजकाः: servers/caterers (those who serve food)
• सम्भोजकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्भोजक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• उपजहुः: brought near / presented / served
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-हृ
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural

• अज्ञम्: the unknown one (incognito person)
• अज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• gold vessels (jāmbūnada-pātra)
• silver vessels (rajata-pātra)
• male servants (dāsāḥ)
• female servants (dāsyaḥ)
• servers (sambhojakāḥ)
• royal food (pārthiva-bhojanīya anna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma expressed as proper hospitality and orderly service: those responsible for serving do so with cleanliness, decorum, and generosity, reflecting ethical conduct within a royal setting.

What is happening in the narrative?

A formal meal is being served: well-dressed male and female attendants and servers bring a wide variety of foods suitable for kings, presenting them in gold and silver vessels.