Shloka 15

पाण्डव-वृष्णि-समागमः तथा अश्वमेध-अनुज्ञा | Reunion at the Kuru Court and Authorization of the Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

अलंचक्ुश्व माल्यौघधै: पुरुषा नागसाह्दयम्‌ । पताकाभिर्विचित्राभिथर्थ्वजैश्न विविधैरपि

Transliteration

alaṃcakruś ca mālyaughaiḥ puruṣā nāgasāhvayam | patākābhir vicitrābhir atha dhvajaiś ca vividhair api ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: Горожане украсили Нагасахваю (Хастинапуру) грудами цветочных гирлянд, цветочными подвесами и иными украшениями, а также множеством знамен и пёстрых, разнообразных флагов. Эта картина являла собой общественное благоговение и гражданский долг — внешнее торжество, призванное почтить царский обряд и восстановленный после смуты порядок царства.

Word by Word

• अलञ्चकुः: they adorned / they decorated
• अलञ्चकुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अलम् + चक्रुः (√कृ)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• माल्यौघैः: with heaps/streams of garlands
• माल्यौघैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य-ओघ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पुरुषाः: men / people
• पुरुषाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नागसाह्वयम्: Hastināpura (the city called ‘Nāga’)
• नागसाह्वयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग-साह्वय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पताकाभिः: with banners
• पताकाभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• विचित्राभिः: variegated / diverse
• विचित्राभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• अथ: then / and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• ध्वजैः: with flags/standards
• ध्वजैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नानाविधैः: of many kinds
• नानाविधैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना-विध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अपि: also / even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Nāgasāhvaya (Hastināpura)
• mālya (flower garlands)
• patākā (flags/pennants)
• dhvaja (standards/banners)
• puruṣāḥ (townspeople)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights civic participation in upholding dharma through respectful public conduct: the community expresses loyalty and reverence by beautifying the capital for a major royal-ritual occasion, signaling social harmony and restored legitimacy.

What is happening in the narrative?

The citizens of Hastināpura (Nāgasāhvaya) decorate the city with garlands, floral festoons, banners, and colorful flags, preparing a festive, honorific setting connected with the events of the Aśvamedhika Parva.