Shloka 30

Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 73: Devayānī–Śarmiṣṭhā Dispute, Confinement in the Well, and Yayāti’s Rescue

Devanagari script

परं चाभिप्रयातस्य चक्र तस्य महात्मन: । भविष्यत्यप्रतिहतं सततं चक्रवर्तिन:,'शत्रुओंपर आक्रमण करनेवाले उस महामना चक्रवर्ती नरेशकी सेना सदा अप्रतिहत होगी। उसकी गतिको कोई रोक नहीं सकेगा”

Transliteration

paraṁ cābhiprayātasya cakra tasya mahātmanaḥ | bhaviṣyaty apratihataṁ satataṁ cakravartinaḥ ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: «Когда тот великий духом владыка двинется вперёд, его имперская мощь станет неизменно неудержимой; войско того чакравартина, всегда устремлённое сокрушать врагов, будет постоянно неотразимым — никто не сможет остановить его поступь».

Word by Word

परम्further; moreover

चand

अभिप्रयातस्यof (him) who has set forth/advanced

चक्रेin the army/host (lit. in the circle/formation)

तस्यof him

महात्मनःof the great-souled one

भविष्यतिwill be

अप्रतिहतम्unobstructed; irresistible

सततम्always; continually

चक्रवर्तिनःof the universal monarch

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

cakravartin (universal monarch)

cakra (wheel of sovereignty)

śatru (enemies)

senā (army)

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 emphasizes the ideal of sovereign authority as effective and unhindered when aligned with rightful kingship: the cakravartin’s advance is portrayed as unstoppable, suggesting that legitimate, resolute rule manifests as unopposed momentum in protecting and subduing adversaries.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes the onward march of a great-souled emperor: as he proceeds, his ‘wheel’ of dominion and his army remain continually unimpeded, able to attack enemies and advance without being checked.