Shloka 17

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 13 — Kīcaka’s Proposition and Draupadī’s Dharmic Refusal

Devanagari script

सिंहस्कन्धकटिग्रीवा: स्ववदाता मनस्विन: । असकृल्लब्धलक्षास्ते रड़े पार्थिवसंनिधौ,उनके कंधे, कमर और कण्ठ सिंहके समान थे। वे निर्मल यशसे सुशोभित और मनस्वी थे। उन्होंने अनेक बार राजाके समीप रंगभूमि (अखाड़े) में विजय पायी थी

Transliteration

siṁhaskandhakaṭigrīvāḥ svavadātā manasvinaḥ | asakṛl labdhalakṣās te raṅge pārthivasaṁnidhau ||

Translation

അവരുടെ തോളുകളും അരയും കഴുത്തും സിംഹസദൃശമായിരുന്നു. സ്വാഭാവിക തേജസ്സിൽ അവർ ദീപ്തരായി, നിർമല യശസ്സാൽ ശോഭിതരായി, ഉന്നത മനസ്സുള്ളവരായിരുന്നു. രാജസന്നിധിയിൽ തന്നെ അരങ്ങിൽ അവർ പലവട്ടം വിജയംയും കീർത്തിയും നേടിയിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

सिंहस्कन्धकटिग्रीवाःhaving shoulders, waist and neck like a lion

स्ववदाताःof pure/bright (good) fame; spotless

मनस्विनःhigh-spirited, resolute

असकृत्many times, repeatedly

लब्धलक्षाःhaving attained the mark/goal; having won the prize

तेthey

रङ्गेin the arena (wrestling-ground)

पार्थिवसंनिधौin the presence of the king

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

pārthiva (the king)

raṅga (arena/akhāḍā)

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?

Excellence is not merely claimed but demonstrated through repeated, public tests; true worth combines outward capability (strength and skill) with inward qualities (purity of conduct, high spirit) that earn lasting reputation.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a group of formidable men—lion-built, radiant, and resolute—who have repeatedly proven their prowess by winning in the arena before the king, establishing their standing at court.