Shloka 231

Vāraṇāvata-prasaṃsā and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure (वरणावत-प्रशंसा तथा पाण्डव-प्रयाणम्)

Devanagari script

ते तं दृष्टवा महात्मानमुपगम्य कुमारका: । भग्नोत्साहक्रियात्मानो ब्राह्मुणं पर्यवारयन्‌

Transliteration

te taṃ dṛṣṭvā mahātmānam upagamya kumārakāḥ | bhagnotsāhakriyātmāno brāhmaṇaṃ paryavārayan ||

Translation

ସେଇ ମହାତ୍ମାଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖି ସେ କୁମାରମାନେ ତାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଗଲେ; ତାଙ୍କର ଉତ୍ସାହ ଓ ପ୍ରୟାସ ଭଙ୍ଗ ହୋଇଥିଲା, ଏବଂ ସେମାନେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କୁ ଚାରିପାଖରୁ ଘେରି ନିକଟରେ ବଳୟାକାରେ ଦାଁଡ଼ି ରହିଲେ।

Word by Word

तेthey

तम्him

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

महात्मानम्the great-souled one

उपगम्यhaving approached

कुमारकाःthe boys/young lads

भग्नोत्साहक्रियात्मानःwhose energy and activity were broken (dispirited and inactive)

ब्राह्मणम्the brahmin

पर्यवारयन्they surrounded/encircled

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

kumārakāḥ (boys)

mahātmā (great-souled man)

brāhmaṇa (a brāhmaṇa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When courage fails, it is natural—and dharmically appropriate—to seek the shelter of a wise and virtuous person. The verse highlights the social-ethical role of the brāhmaṇa/learned elder as a refuge and guide for the vulnerable.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of boys, shaken and unable to act with confidence, see a noble brāhmaṇa. They approach him and surround him closely, indicating dependence, urgency, and a plea for protection or counsel.