Shloka 23

Devanagari script

तत्र नानाप्रकारेषु विमानेषु स्वलंकृता: । स्पर्धमानास्तदान्योन्यं निषेदु: सर्वपार्थिवा:,उन्हीं सतमहले मकानों या विमानोंमें, जो अनेक प्रकारके बने हुए थे, सब राजालोग परस्पर एक-दूसरेसे होड़ रखते हुए सुन्दर-से-सुन्दर शृंगार धारण करके बैठे

Transliteration

tatra nānāprakāreṣu vimāneṣu svalankṛtāḥ | spardhamānās tadānyonyaṁ niṣeduḥ sarvapārthivāḥ ||

Translation

Там, в разнообразных богато убранных павильонах (виманах), все цари, нарядившись в лучшие одежды и украшения, расселись, соперничая друг с другом в блеске и великолепии.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र
• Form: indeclinable (locative adverb)

• नाना-प्रकारेषु: in various kinds (of)
• नाना-प्रकारेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना + प्रकार
• Form: masculine/neuter, locative, plural

• विमानेषु: in aerial cars/palaces (vimānas)
• विमानेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान
• Form: neuter, locative, plural

• सु-अलंकृताः: well-adorned
• सु-अलंकृताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + अलंकृत
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• स्पर्धमानाः: competing, vying
• स्पर्धमानाः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पर्ध्
• Form: present active participle (parasmaipada), masculine, nominative, plural

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा
• Form: indeclinable (temporal adverb)

• अन्योन्यम्: mutually, with one another
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य
• Form: indeclinable (reciprocal adverb; accusative used adverbially)

• निषेदुः: sat down
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-षद्
• Form: perfect (liṭ), 3rd person, plural, parasmaipada

• सर्व-पार्थिवाः: all kings
• सर्व-पार्थिवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + पार्थिव
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वैशम्पायन (Vaiśampāyana)
• सर्वपार्थिवाः (all kings)
• विमान (vimāna: pavilion/royal mansion)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how royal culture often equates honor with visible splendor; rivalry can manifest not only in battle but also in display. Ethically, it hints at the tension between inner worth and outward prestige, a recurring Mahābhārata concern.

What is happening in the narrative?

A gathering of rulers is being described: the kings, dressed and decorated magnificently, take their seats in various ornate pavilions, each trying to outshine the others.