Mahabharata 4.13.17 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 17

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 13 — Kīcaka’s Proposition and Draupadī’s Dharmic Refusal

Devanagari script

सिंहस्कन्धकटिग्रीवा: स्ववदाता मनस्विन: । असकृल्लब्धलक्षास्ते रड़े पार्थिवसंनिधौ

Transliteration

siṁhaskandhakaṭigrīvāḥ svavadātā manasvinaḥ | asakṛl labdhalakṣās te raṅge pārthivasaṁnidhau ||

Translation

ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਮੋਢੇ, ਕਮਰ ਅਤੇ ਗਰਦਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਰਗੇ ਸਨ। ਉਹ ਆਪਣੇ ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਤੇਜ ਨਾਲ ਚਮਕਦੇ, ਨਿਰਮਲ ਯਸ਼ ਨਾਲ ਸੁਸ਼ੋਭਿਤ ਅਤੇ ਉੱਚ ਮਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਸਨ। ਰਾਜੇ ਦੀ ਹਾਜ਼ਰੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਖਾੜੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਵਾਰੰਵਾਰ ਜਿੱਤ ਅਤੇ ਮਾਣ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ।

Word by Word

• सिंहस्कन्धकटिग्रीवाः: having shoulders, waist and neck like a lion
• सिंहस्कन्धकटिग्रीवाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंह-स्कन्ध-कटि-ग्रीवा
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्ववदाताः: of pure/bright (good) fame; spotless
• स्ववदाताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-वदात
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मनस्विनः: high-spirited, resolute
• मनस्विनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• असकृत्: many times, repeatedly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असकृत्

• लब्धलक्षाः: having attained the mark/goal; having won the prize
• लब्धलक्षाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लब्ध-लक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रङ्गे: in the arena (wrestling-ground)
• रङ्गे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• पार्थिवसंनिधौ: in the presence of the king
• पार्थिवसंनिधौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव-संनिधि
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• pārthiva (the king)
• raṅga (arena/akhāḍā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Excellence is not merely claimed but demonstrated through repeated, public tests; true worth combines outward capability (strength and skill) with inward qualities (purity of conduct, high spirit) that earn lasting reputation.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a group of formidable men—lion-built, radiant, and resolute—who have repeatedly proven their prowess by winning in the arena before the king, establishing their standing at court.