Shloka 2

अक्षदेवन-प्रवर्तनम् | Commencement of the Dice Game

Devanagari script

धृतिमन्तो दह्वीनिषेवा धर्मात्मानो यशस्विन: । मूर्धाभिषिक्तास्ते चैनं राजान: पर्युपासते

Transliteration

dhṛtimanto dahvīniṣevā dharmātmāno yaśasvinaḥ | mūrdhābhiṣiktās te cainaṃ rājānaḥ paryupāsate ||

Translation

അവർ ധൃതിയുള്ളവർ, അഗ്നിസേവയിൽ നിരതർ, ധർമ്മാത്മാക്കൾ, യശസ്വികൾ; രാജാഭിഷേകത്താൽ അഭിഷിക്തരായ ആ രാജാക്കന്മാർ ഈ രാജാവിനെ ചുറ്റിനിന്ന് വിനയത്തോടെ ഉപാസിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• धृतिमन्तः: steadfast, resolute
• धृतिमन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृतिमन्त्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• दह्वीनिषेवाः: devoted to (serving) the wise/learned
• दह्वीनिषेवाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दह्वीनिषेव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• धर्मात्मानः: righteous-souled
• धर्मात्मानः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यशस्विनः: glorious, renowned
• यशस्विनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मूर्धाभिषिक्ताः: consecrated (anointed on the head), crowned
• मूर्धाभिषिक्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्धाभिषिक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• एनम्: him (this person)
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (एतद्-प्रत्ययान्त रूपम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पर्युपासते: attend upon, wait upon, serve respectfully
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस् (परि-उप-आस्)
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Duryodhana
• kings (rājānaḥ)
• the king referred to as 'enam' (this king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores traditional markers of legitimate authority: kings who are ritually consecrated and committed to dharma and Vedic rites show deference to a central sovereign. Ethical weight is placed on righteousness, self-control, and ritual discipline as foundations for political honor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana is describing the stature of a particular king (referred to as ‘this king’) by noting that many crowned and reputable rulers—known for dharma and fire-ritual observance—stand in attendance upon him, highlighting his prestige and the political hierarchy around him.