Shloka 32

Adhyāya 6: Kaṅka (Yudhiṣṭhira) Seeks Refuge in Virāṭa’s Assembly

Devanagari script

अटब्यां दुर्गकान्तारे सागरे गहने गिरौ । ये स्मरिष्यन्ति मां राजन्‌ यथाहं भवता स्मृता

Transliteration

aṭabyāṃ durgakāntāre sāgare gahane girau | ye smariṣyanti māṃ rājan yathāhaṃ bhavatā smṛtā ||

Translation

ഹേ രാജാവേ, വനത്തിൽ, ദുർഗ്ഗമമായ കാന്താരത്തിൽ, സമുദ്രത്തിൽ, ഗഹനവും അഗമ്യവുമായ സ്ഥലത്ത്, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ പർവതത്തിൽ—നീ എന്നെ സ്മരിച്ചതുപോലെ ആരെങ്കിലും എന്നെ സ്മരിച്ചാൽ, അവർക്കു ഞാൻ സന്നിധനായിരിക്കും.

Word by Word

• अटब्याम्: in the forest
• अटब्याम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अटवी
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• दुर्ग: in a fort/stronghold
• दुर्ग: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• कान्तारे: in a wilderness
• कान्तारे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्तार
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सागरे: in the sea
• सागरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• गहने: in a dense/thick (place)
• गहने: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गहन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• गिरौ: on a mountain
• गिरौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्मरिष्यन्ति: will remember
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यथा: as/just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• स्मृता: remembered
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• rājan (the king addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes the power of mindful remembrance of a trusted guide: in any extreme danger—forest, wilderness, sea, deep places, or mountains—calling to mind the helper in the right spirit becomes a means of receiving support and protection.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana addresses a king and assures him that just as the king has remembered (invoked) him, so too anyone who remembers him in perilous circumstances will be met with his presence/help—an assurance of reliable aid when properly called upon.