Shloka 24

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 113 — Maryādā-sthāpana (Śvetaketu’s Boundary) and the Niyoga Deliberation of Pāṇḍu and Kuntī

Devanagari script

स राजा देवगर्भाभो विजिगीषुर्वसुंधराम्‌ । हृष्टपुष्टबलै: प्रायात्‌ पाण्डु: शत्रूननेकश:,राजा पाण्डु देवकुमारके समान तेजस्वी थे। उन्होंने इस पृथ्वीपर विजय पानेकी इच्छासे हृष्ट-पुष्ट सैनिकोंके साथ अनेक शत्रुओंपर धावा किया

Transliteration

sa rājā devagarbhābho vijigīṣur vasuṃdharām | hṛṣṭapuṣṭabalaiḥ prāyāt pāṇḍuḥ śatrūn anekaśaḥ ||

Translation

Disse Vaiśampāyana: O rei Pāṇḍu, radiante como um príncipe de nascimento divino, desejoso de conquistar a terra, partiu com tropas alegres e bem nutridas, e repetidas vezes investiu contra muitos inimigos.

Word by Word

सःhe/that (man)

राजाking

देवगर्भाभःhaving the splendor/appearance of Devagarbha (a celestial-like radiance)

विजिगीषुःdesirous of conquering

वसुन्धराम्the earth

हृष्टपुष्टबलैःwith forces (troops) that were delighted and well-nourished/strong

प्रायात्set out / marched forth

पाण्डुःPāṇḍu

शत्रून्enemies

अनेकशःmany times / in many ways / in great numbers

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pāṇḍu

vasuṃdharā (the Earth)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of energetic leadership: a king, endowed with splendor and resolve, mobilizes well-prepared forces to establish sovereignty. Ethically, it points to the tension between rightful rule (order and protection) and the drive for expansion (world-conquest), a recurring Mahābhārata concern.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Pāṇḍu beginning his campaign of conquest. With strong, enthusiastic troops, he marches out and attacks numerous enemies, initiating a phase of military expansion and consolidation.