Shloka 2

Adhyāya 31: Rājasūya-samāgama — The Gathering of Kings and the Ordering of Hospitality

Devanagari script

स शूरसेनान्‌ कार्त्स्न्येन पूर्वमेवाजयत्‌ प्रभु: । मत्स्यराजं च कौरव्यो वशे चक्रे बलादू बली

Transliteration

sa śūrasenān kārtsnyena pūrvam evājayat prabhuḥ | matsyarājaṃ ca kauravyo vaśe cakre balād balī ||

Translation

ପରାକ୍ରମୀ ପ୍ରଭୁ ସହଦେବ ପ୍ରଥମେ ସମଗ୍ର ଶୂରସେନମାନଙ୍କୁ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଭାବେ ଜୟ କଲେ; ପରେ ବଳବାନ କୌରବ ବୀର ବଳପ୍ରୟୋଗରେ ମତ୍ସ୍ୟରାଜ ବିରାଟଙ୍କୁ ଅଧୀନ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शूरसेनान्: the Śūrasenas (people of Śūrasena)
• शूरसेनान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूरसेन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कार्त्स्न्येन: entirely, in full
• कार्त्स्न्येन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्त्स्न्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• पूर्वम्: first, earlier
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व

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

• 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

• मत्स्यराजम्: the king of Matsya (Virāṭa)
• मत्स्यराजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्यराज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• कौरव्यः: the Kaurava (prince)
• कौरव्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वशे: under control, in subjection
• वशे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• चक्रे: made (him), brought (him) into
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• बलात्: by force
• बलात्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• बली: strong, mighty
• बली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Sahadeva
• Śūrasena (people/region)
• Matsya (kingdom)
• Virāṭa (Matsya king)
• Kuru/Kaurava lineage

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a common epic ethic of kṣatriya polity: a ruler’s campaign establishes suzerainty through strength, enabling larger royal rites (like the Rājasūya) by securing acknowledgment and submission from neighboring powers.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the campaign of conquest associated with Yudhiṣṭhira’s imperial rite, Sahadeva first subdues the Śūrasena region and then compels the Matsya king Virāṭa to accept subordination.