Shloka 16

Adhyāya 152: Kaurava-sainyavibhāgaḥ

Division and Standardization of the Kaurava Host

Devanagari script

विविधायुधपूर्णानि पताकाध्वजवन्ति च । समाश्ष तेषां पन्थान: क्रियन्तां नगराद्‌ बहि:

Transliteration

vaśiṣṭha uvāca |

vividhāyudhapūrṇāni patākādhvajavanti ca |

samāśṣ teṣāṃ panthānaḥ kriyantāṃ nagarād bahiḥ ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ସେଇ ଶିବିରଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ନାନା ପ୍ରକାର ଅସ୍ତ୍ର-ଶସ୍ତ୍ରରେ ପରିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଓ ଧ୍ୱଜ-ପତାକାରେ ଶୋଭିତ ରଖ। ଏବଂ ନଗରର ବାହାରୁ ସେଇ ଶିବିରଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ପହଞ୍ଚିବା ପାଇଁ ଅନେକ ସିଧା ଓ ସମତଳ ପଥ ତିଆରି କରାଯାଉ।

Word by Word

• विविध: various
• विविध: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• आयुध: weapons
• आयुध: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• पूर्णानि: filled, full
• पूर्णानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• पताका: with banners
• पताका: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• ध्वज: with flags/standards
• ध्वज: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वन्ति: possessing (having)
• वन्ति: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

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

• समाश्रिताः: situated/established, having taken position
• समाश्रिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-श्रि (धातु) → समाश्रित (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तेषाम्: of them (of those camps)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• पन्थानः: paths, roads
• पन्थानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन्/पन्था
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• क्रियन्ताम्: let (them) be made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Ātmanepada (passive sense), 3rd, Plural

• नगरात्: from the city
• नगरात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaishampayana
• encampments/camps (śibira)
• weapons (āyudha)
• banners and standards (patākā, dhvaja)
• city (nagara)
• roads/routes (panthānaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights practical dharma of governance in wartime: preparedness, clear organization, and orderly access routes. Ethical conduct in conflict includes minimizing chaos and ensuring disciplined arrangements rather than reckless violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, instructions are being given for setting up military camps—stocking them with arms, marking them with banners/standards, and constructing straight, level roads from outside the city to facilitate movement and coordination.