Mahabharata 3.232.34 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 232, Shloka 34

Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve

Gandharva Encounter

Devanagari script

जृम्भकैर्यक्षरक्षोति: स्रग्विभि: समलड्कृत:

Transliteration

jṛmbhakair yakṣarakṣotiḥ sragvibhiḥ samalaṅkṛtaḥ

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya disse: “Ele era guardado por Yakṣas e Rākṣasas, e estava adornado com grinaldas, plenamente enfeitado.”

Word by Word

• जृम्भकैः: with yawns / with (things called) jṛmbhakas
• जृम्भकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जृम्भक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• यक्ष-रक्षोति: the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas (host)
• यक्ष-रक्षोति: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष-रक्षस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्रग्भिः: with garlands
• स्रग्भिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रज्
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• समलङ्कृतः: adorned, decorated
• समलङ्कृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√अलङ्कृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Jṛmbhakas
• Yakṣas
• Rākṣasas
• garlands

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes the idea of safeguarded order: protection is portrayed not only through human means but also through powerful guardian beings, while adornment signals dignity and auspiciousness—suggesting that rightful presence or authority is accompanied by both security and auspicious signs.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya is describing a figure (contextually, someone important in the episode) as being surrounded by formidable supernatural guardians—Yakṣas and Rākṣasas—and as wearing garlands, indicating a ceremonially honored or splendidly presented state.