Śatrughna’s Entry into Ahicchatrā
Temptation of Sumada and the Goddess’s Boon
एतस्मिन्समये कश्चिदागत्य नृपतिं जगौ । स्वामिन्न जाने कस्यास्ति हयः पत्रधरोंऽतिके
etasminsamaye kaścidāgatya nṛpatiṃ jagau | svāminna jāne kasyāsti hayaḥ patradharoṃ'tike
त्याच वेळी एक जण येऊन राजाला म्हणाला—“स्वामिन्, हा घोडा कोणाचा आहे ते मला माहीत नाही; पण तो जवळच आहे आणि पत्र (लिखित संदेश) घेऊन आला आहे.”
An unidentified messenger/attendant addressing the king (nṛpati)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: city
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एतस्मिन्समये = एतस्मिन् + समये; कश्चिदागत्य = कश्चित् + आगत्य; स्वामिन्न = स्वामिन् (सम्बोधन) + (पदपूरणार्थं नकार-आगमः/सन्धिः); कस्यास्ति = कस्य + अस्ति; पत्रधरोंऽतिके = पत्रधरः + अन्तिके (विसर्ग/ओ-आदेश-सन्धिः)।
An unnamed person—likely a messenger, guard, or court attendant—reports to the king about a nearby horse carrying a letter.
It serves as a plot device introducing new information or an urgent message to the king, prompting the next development in the episode.
The verse highlights careful reporting and humility: the speaker does not speculate about ownership and instead truthfully conveys only what is known.