Shloka 44

Varṣa-Parvata-Nivāsinām Varnanam

Description of Regions, Mountains, and Their Inhabitants

Devanagari script

अश्मका: पाण्ड्राष्ट्राश्न गोपराष्ट्रा: करीतय: । अधिराज्यकुशद्याश्च मल्लराष्ट्रं च केवलम्‌,भारतमें ये कुरु-पांचाल, शाल्व, माद्रेय-जांगल, शूरसेन, पुलिन्द, बोध, माल, मत्स्य, कुशल्य, सौशल्य, कुन्ति, कान्ति, कोसल, चेदि, मत्स्य, करूष, भोज, सिन्धु-पुलिन्द, उत्तमाश्च, दशार्ण, मेकल, उत्कल, पंचाल, कोसल, नैकपृष्ठ, धुरंधर, गोधा, मद्रकलिंग, काशि, अपरकाशि, जठर, कुक्कुर, दशार्ण, कुन्ति, अवन्ति, अपरकुन्ति, गोमन्त, मन्दक, सण्ड, विदर्भ, रूपवाहिक, अश्मक, पाण्ड्राष्ट्र, गोपराष्ट्र, करीति, अधिराज्य, कुशाद्य तथा मल्लराष्ट्र

Transliteration

aśmakāḥ pāṇḍrāṣṭrāś ca goparāṣṭrāḥ karītayaḥ | adhirājyakuśādyāś ca mallarāṣṭraṃ ca kevalam ||

Translation

संजय म्हणाला—अश्मक, पाण्ड्राष्ट्र, गोपराष्ट्र, करीतय; अधिराज्य-जन, कुशादी जनसमूह आणि मल्लराष्ट्रही स्वतंत्र होते.

Word by Word

• अश्मकाः: the Ashmakas (people of Ashmaka)
• अश्मकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्मक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पाण्ड्राष्ट्राः: the Pandrashtras (people of Pandrashtra)
• पाण्ड्राष्ट्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्ड्राष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• गोपराष्ट्राः: the Goparashtras (people of Goparashtra)
• गोपराष्ट्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• करीतयः: the Karitas/Karītis (a people/tribe)
• करीतयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: करीत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अधिराज्यकुशद्याः: the Adhirajyas and Kushadyas (peoples/tribes)
• अधिराज्यकुशद्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिराज्यकुशद्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मल्लराष्ट्रम्: the Mallarashtra (country/realm of the Mallas)
• मल्लराष्ट्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल्लराष्ट्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• केवलम्: only/alone/entirely
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Aśmaka
• Pāṇḍrāṣṭra
• Goparāṣṭra
• Karītaya
• Adhirājya
• Kuśa (group reference)
• Malla-rāṣṭra (Malla country)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse’s core implication is ethical and social: war is not confined to the principal rivals but implicates many peoples and lands, multiplying suffering and responsibility. The Mahābhārata repeatedly uses such catalogues to highlight the expansive consequences of adharma-driven conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya continues reporting to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the composition of forces by naming additional regions/tribes present in the great battle, extending the roster of participating peoples.