Shloka 21

शकुनेः पुत्रेण सह आश्वमेधाश्वविषयः संघर्षः — Arjuna’s restrained engagement with Śakuni’s son during the horse-escort

Devanagari script

वाहनानां च विविधा: शाला: शालीक्षुगोरसै: । उपेता भरतमश्रेष्ठो व्यादिदेश च धर्मराट्‌,भरतभूषण! धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने उन राजाओंकी सवारियोंके लिये भी धान, ऊँख और गोरससे भरे-पूरे घर दिये

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca | Vāhanānāṃ ca vividhāḥ śālāḥ śālyikṣugorasaiḥ | upetā bharataśreṣṭho vyādideśa ca dharmarāṭ ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: Праведный царь Юдхиштхира, лучший среди Бхаратов, повелел устроить разные навесы и стойла для повозок и коней прибывших царей, снабдив их в изобилии рисом, сахарным тростником и молочными припасами.

Word by Word

वाहनानाम्of the vehicles/mounts

चand

विविधाःvarious

शालाःhalls/sheds (stables, shelters)

शालिwith rice/paddy

इक्षुwith sugarcane

गोरसैःwith milk/curds etc. (cow-products)

उपेताःprovided with; furnished with

भरतमश्रेष्ठःthe best of the Bharatas

व्यादिदेशordered; directed

चand

धर्मराट्the king of dharma (Dharmaraja)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja/Dharmarāṭ, Bharataśreṣṭha)

vāhana (mounts/vehicles)

śālā (shelters/stables)

śāli (rice)

ikṣu (sugarcane)

gorasa (dairy produce)

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?

A dharmic ruler practices hospitality comprehensively: honoring guests includes caring for their attendants, animals, and logistical needs, not merely offering ceremonial respect.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Ashvamedha-related gatherings, Yudhiṣṭhira orders well-stocked shelters for the visiting kings’ mounts and conveyances, supplying staple foods and dairy to ensure orderly, respectful accommodation.