Shloka 3

Rājasūya-sambhāra: Prosperity under Rājadharma and the Initiation of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

ततो गोपालकक्षं च सोत्तरानपि कोसलान्‌ | मल्लानामधिपं चैव पार्थिवं चाजयत्‌ प्रभु:,तत्पश्चात्‌ शक्तिशाली पाण्डुकुमारने गोपालकक्ष और उत्तर कोसल देशको जीतकर मल्लराष्ट्रके अधिपति पार्थिवको अपने अधीन कर लिया

Transliteration

tato gopālakakṣaṃ ca sottarān api kosalān | mallānām adhipaṃ caiva pārthivaṃ cājayat prabhuḥ ||

Translation

त्यानंतर शक्तिशाली पांडुपुत्राने गोपालकक्ष व उत्तरसहित कोसलदेश जिंकला; पुढे मल्लांचा अधिपती राजा पार्थिव यालाही पराभूत करून आपल्या अधीन केला.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• गोपालकक्षम्: Gopālaka-kakṣa (a region/territory named Gopālaka-kakṣa)
• गोपालकक्षम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपालकक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• स-उत्तरान्: together with the Uttaras (northern part/people)
• स-उत्तरान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + उत्तर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• कोसलान्: the Kosalas
• कोसलान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोसल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मल्लानाम्: of the Mallas
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अधिपम्: the overlord, ruler
• अधिपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• पार्थिवम्: the king (Pārthiva)
• पार्थिवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• अजयत्: conquered
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रभुः: the lord, the powerful one
• प्रभुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍukumāra (a Pandava prince)
• Gopālakakṣa
• Uttara Kosala
• Kosala
• Malla (Malla-rāṣṭra)
• Pārthiva (king of the Mallas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse reflects the epic’s political-dharma lens: a capable ruler establishes order by bringing neighboring realms under a stable sovereignty, ideally to prevent disorder and to support legitimate royal aims (such as securing tribute, alliances, and recognition).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a sequence of conquests: the Pāṇḍu prince first subdues Gopālakakṣa and the Kosalas including their northern region, and then conquers the ruler of the Malla realm, making him subordinate.