Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

सोअमात्यै: स्थविरे: सार्ध ब्राह्मणैश्न महर्षिभि: | बलेन चतुरज्जेण ययौ मद्रपते: पुरम,वे बूढ़े मन्त्रियों, ब्राह्मणों, महर्षियों तथा चतुरंगिणी सेनाके साथ मद्रराजकी राजधानीमें गये

Transliteration

so 'mātyaiḥ sthaviraiḥ sārdhaṃ brāhmaṇaiś ca maharṣibhiḥ | balena catur-aṅgeṇa yayau madrā-pateḥ puram ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: В сопровождении старших министров, вместе с брахманами и великими риши, и под охраной полного четырехчастного войска он отправился в город владыки Мадры. Стих подчеркивает дхармический образ государственности: совет старейшин и мудрецов и дисциплинированная защита направляют царский путь, а не одно лишь показное могущество.

Word by Word

सःhe

अमात्यैःwith ministers

स्थविरैःelder/aged

सार्धम्together with

ब्राह्मणैःwith brahmins

महर्षिभिःwith great sages

बलेनwith an army/force

चतुरङ्गेणfourfold (army: elephants, chariots, cavalry, infantry)

ययौwent

मद्रपतेःof the king of Madra

पुरम्city (capital)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

amātya (ministers)

sthavira (elders)

brāhmaṇa

maharṣi

catur-aṅga-bala (fourfold army)

Madra

madra-pati (king of Madra)

pura (the capital city of Madra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic governance: a ruler’s actions are ideally guided by experienced ministers and spiritually authoritative Brāhmaṇas and sages, while legitimate force (a disciplined army) serves protection and orderly conduct rather than aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

The subject (a royal figure in the episode) travels to the capital of the Madra king, accompanied by senior counselors, learned Brāhmaṇas and great sages, and guarded by a full fourfold army.