Shloka 23

Devanagari script

तथा माहिष्मतीवासी नीलो नीलायुथै: सह

Transliteration

tathā māhiṣmatīvāsī nīlo nīlāyuthaiḥ saha

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അതുപോലെ മാഹിഷ്മതിയിലെ നിവാസിയായ നീലനും തന്റെ നീലവർണ്ണ സൈന്യദളങ്ങളോടുകൂടി എത്തി।

Word by Word

• तथा: thus; likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable)

• माहिष्मतीवासी: the resident of Māhiṣmatī
• माहिष्मतीवासी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहिष्मती-वासी
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• नीलः: Nīla (proper name)
• नीलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• नीलायुथैः: with troops/companies of Nīlas (blue/‘Nīla’ troops)
• नीलायुथैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील-आयुथ
• Form: Neuter, instrumental, plural

• सह: together with
• सह: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable); used with instrumental

Speaker

वैशमग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Nīla
• Māhiṣmatī
• nīlāyutha (blue/dark troops)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how, in times of impending conflict, rulers and their forces align and assemble; it highlights the ethical weight of political choices—who one supports and with what strength—within the broader dharma-driven narrative of the Mahābhārata.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśaṃpāyana’s narration, another ally/king is being listed as joining the gathering: Nīla of Māhiṣmatī comes accompanied by his contingent, adding to the growing coalition of forces.