Shloka 11

यमसभावर्णनम् (Yamasabhā-varṇanam) — Nārada’s Description of Dharmarāja’s Assembly

Devanagari script

चतुरश्चः सदश्चोर्मि: कार्तवीर्यश्व पार्थिव: । भरत: सुरथश्वैव सुनीथो निशठो नलः

Transliteration

caturaś caḥ sadaś cormiḥ kārtavīryaś ca pārthivaḥ | bharataḥ surathaś caiva sunītho niṣaṭho nalaḥ

Translation

നാരദൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ചതുരൻ, സദൻ, ഊർമി, ഭൂപനായ കാർതവീര്യൻ; കൂടാതെ ഭരതൻ, സുരഥൻ, സുനീഥൻ, നിശഠൻ, നലൻ—ഇവരും പുരാതന പ്രസിദ്ധ രാജാക്കന്മാർ.

Word by Word

चतुरःfour (persons)

चःand

सदःSada (proper name)

चand

ऊर्मिःŪrmi (proper name)

कार्तवीर्यःKārtavīrya (proper name)

चand

पार्थिवःPārthiva (proper name/king)

भरतःBharata (proper name)

सुरथःSuratha (proper name)

चand

एवindeed/also

सुनीथःSunītha (proper name)

निशठःNiśaṭha (proper name)

नलःNala (proper name)

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Narada

Catura

Sada

Ūrmi

Kārtavīrya

Bharata

Suratha

Sunītha

Niṣaṭha

Nala

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

By enumerating once-famous rulers, the passage underscores the fragility of worldly power: even great kings become names in memory, encouraging reflection on impermanence and the limits of sovereignty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Narada is reciting a catalogue of notable kings, continuing a broader discourse that situates present events against the long sweep of past dynasties and celebrated rulers.