Shloka 15

Asita Devala Observes Jaigīṣavya’s Yogic Attainment and Chooses Mokṣa-dharma (देवल-जैगीषव्योपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

राजसूये क्रतुश्रेष्ठे निवृत्ते जनमेजय । जायते सुमहाघोर: संग्राम: क्षत्रियान्‌ प्रति,जनमेजय! क्रतुश्रेष्ठ राजसूयका अनुष्ठान पूर्ण हो जानेपर उस देशके क्षत्रियोंमें महाभयंकर संग्राम हुआ करता है

Transliteration

rājasūye kratuśreṣṭhe nivṛtte janamejaya | jāyate sumahāghoraḥ saṅgrāmaḥ kṣatriyān prati ||

Translation

ജനമേജയാ! ക്രതുശ്രേഷ്ഠമായ രാജസൂയം സമാപിച്ചാൽ ആ ദേശത്തിലെ ക്ഷത്രിയന്മാരിൽ അത്യന്തം ഭയാനകമായൊരു യുദ്ധം ഉദ്ഭവിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

राजसूयेin the Rājasūya (sacrifice)

क्रतुश्रेष्ठेin the best of sacrifices

निवृत्तेwhen (it) had ended / on completion

जनमेजयO Janamejaya

जायतेarises / occurs

सुमहाvery great

घोरःterrible

संग्रामःbattle

क्षत्रियान्kṣatriyas / warriors

प्रतिagainst / towards

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Janamejaya

Rājasūya (sacrifice)

Kṣatriyas

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse hints at an ethical tension in royal life: even the highest public rite meant to establish legitimate sovereignty can intensify rivalry and provoke violent contest among kṣatriyas. Ritual prestige and political power, if not restrained by dharma, may culminate in conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana addresses King Janamejaya and states a narrative observation: after the completion of the Rājasūya sacrifice, a terribly great battle arises involving the kṣatriyas—foreshadowing or contextualizing ensuing warfare.