Shloka 12

Arjuna Honored in Indra’s Court; Lomāśa’s Audience; Indra’s Disclosure of Lineage and Mission

Book 3, Chapter 45

Devanagari script

भक्तानुकम्पी कान्तश्न प्रियश्न स्थिरसंगर: । प्रार्थनीयैर्गुणगणैमहेन्द्रवरुणोपम:

Transliteration

bhaktānukampī kāntaśna priyaśna sthirasaṅgaraḥ | prārthanīyair guṇagaṇair mahendrvaruṇopamaḥ ||

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു— അവൻ ഭക്തന്മാരോടും ആശ്രിതരോടും അനുകമ്പയുള്ളവൻ; ആഹാരത്തിൽ മിതൻ; യുദ്ധത്തിൽ അചഞ്ചലൻ. പ്രശംസനീയ ഗുണസമൂഹംകൊണ്ട് അവൻ പ്രാർത്ഥനീയനും ആദരണീയനും—മഹേന്ദ്രനും വരുണനും പോലെയുള്ള മഹത്വമുള്ളവൻ.

Word by Word

भक्तानुकम्पीcompassionate to devotees

कान्तश्नःeating what is desired/pleasant (food)

प्रियश्नःeating what is dear/liked

स्थिरसंगरःsteadfast in battle

प्रार्थनीयैःby/with desirable (praiseworthy) [qualities]

गुणगणैःwith hosts of virtues

महेन्द्रवरुणोपमःcomparable to Mahendra and Varuṇa

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Mahendra (Indra)

Varuṇa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises an ideal leader/hero whose greatness rests not only on martial steadiness but also on compassion and self-restraint; ethical excellence (guṇa) makes one truly worthy of honor and reliance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing a distinguished figure by listing exemplary traits—kindness to the devoted, moderation, and firmness in battle—elevating him through comparison with Indra and Varuṇa.