Shloka 19

अध्याय ८२ — केशवप्रयाणे निमित्तदर्शनम्

Omens and Reception During Keśava’s Departure

Devanagari script

वाजिभि: शैब्यसुग्रीवमेघपुष्पबनलाहकै: । स्नातै: सम्पादयामासु: सम्पन्नै: सर्वसम्पदा,श्रीकृष्णके सेवकोंने शैब्य, सुग्रीव, मेघपुष्प तथा बलाहक नामवाले चारों घोड़ोंको नहला-धुलाकर सब प्रकारके बहुमूल्य आभूषणोंद्वारा सुसज्जित करके उस रथमें जोत दिया

Transliteration

vājibhiḥ śaibya-sugrīva-meghapuṣpa-balāhakaiḥ | snātaiḥ sampādayāmāsuḥ sampannaiḥ sarva-sampadā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dengan kuda-kuda bernama Śaibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa dan Balāhaka—yang telah dimandikan, disiapkan rapi, serta dilengkapi dengan segala jenis kelengkapan dan perhiasan yang bernilai—para pelayan Kṛṣṇa menyempurnakan segala persiapan lalu memasangkan kuda-kuda itu pada kereta perang.

Word by Word

वाजिभिःwith horses

शैब्यŚaibya (name of a horse)

सुग्रीवSugrīva (name of a horse)

मेघपुष्पMeghapuṣpa (name of a horse; 'cloud-flower')

बलाहकैःwith Balāhakas / with Balāhaka (name; lit. cloud)

स्नातैःhaving been bathed/washed

सम्पादयामासुःthey caused to be made ready / they prepared

सम्पन्नैःequipped, furnished

सर्वसम्पदाwith all kinds of wealth/accoutrements

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Śrī Kṛṣṇa

Kṛṣṇa’s attendants/servants

chariot (ratha)

horses: Śaibya

horses: Sugrīva

horses: Meghapuṣpa

horses: Balāhaka

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethic of sevā (dutiful service) expressed through meticulous preparation: readiness, cleanliness, and proper equipment are portrayed as virtues that support righteous action, especially when great decisions and conflicts are imminent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Kṛṣṇa’s attendants bathe and fully adorn four named horses—Śaibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa, and Balāhaka—and then yoke them to the chariot, completing the chariot’s preparation.