Shloka 11

दुर्योधनस्य लज्जा-प्रायोपवेशविचारः

Duryodhana’s Shame and Consideration of Prāyopaveśa

Devanagari script

रुद्रैरिव यमो राजा मरुद्धिरिव वासव: । कुरुभिस्त्वं वृतो राजन्‌ भासि नक्षत्रराडिव

Transliteration

rudrair iva yamo rājā marudbhir iva vāsavaḥ | kurubhis tvaṁ vṛto rājan bhāsi nakṣatrarāḍ iva ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Raja, dikelilingi oleh kaum Kuru, tuanku bersinar—seperti Yama di antara para Rudra, seperti Indra di antara para Marut, dan seperti penguasa bintang-bintang (Bulan) di tengah gugusan bintang.”

Word by Word

रुद्रैःby/with the Rudras

इवlike, as if

यमःYama

राजाking

मरुद्भिःby/with the Maruts

इवlike, as if

वासवःVāsava (Indra)

कुरुभिःby/with the Kurus

त्वम्you

वृतःsurrounded, attended

राजन्O king

भासिyou shine

नक्षत्रराट्king of stars (the moon)

इवlike, as if

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yama

Rudras

Indra (Vāsava)

Maruts

Kurus

Nakṣatrarāṭ (Moon)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ideal kingship through imagery: a true ruler stands out by moral authority (Yama), commanding leadership (Indra), and luminous eminence (Moon among stars). It implies that rightful leadership is recognized naturally when supported by one’s community and lineage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a king’s distinguished presence while he is attended by the Kurus, using three divine similes to convey his prominence and the respectful circle of followers around him.