Shloka 39

अर्जुनदुःखहेतुप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the cause of Arjuna’s recurring hardship

Book 14, Chapter 89

Devanagari script

एवं बभूव यज्ञ: स धर्मराजस्य धीमत: । बद्धन्नधनरत्नौघ: सुरामैरेयसागर:

Transliteration

evaṁ babhūva yajñaḥ sa dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ | baddhānna-dhana-ratnaughaḥ surā-maireya-sāgaraḥ ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: «Так завершилось жертвоприношение мудрого Дхармараджи. Там громоздились запасы зерна, богатства и потоки драгоценностей — словно океан опьяняющих услад, способный возбудить желание даже в богах. Эта картина провозглашает царский долг: благоденствие собирают не для личной утехи, но являют и раздают в публичном обряде, утверждая порядок, щедрость и дхарму после разорений войны.»

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• बभूव: became; came to be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada

• यज्ञः: sacrifice, yajña
• यज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सः: that; he/it
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• धर्मराजस्य: of Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• धीमतः: of the wise/intelligent one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत्
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• बद्ध: bound; heaped/arranged
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), masculine, nominative, singular

• अन्नधनरत्नौघः: a mass/heap of food, wealth, and jewels
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्नधनरत्नौघ
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सुरामैरेयसागरः: an ocean of surā and maireya (intoxicating liquors)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरामैरेयसागर
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• yajña (Aśvamedha sacrifice)
• anna (grain)
• dhana (wealth)
• ratna (jewels)
• surā
• maireya
• sāgara (ocean, metaphor)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic kingship: abundance and power are legitimized through a public, rule-governed rite and are oriented toward generosity and social order, not mere personal enjoyment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the completion of Yudhiṣṭhira’s great sacrifice, emphasizing the immense accumulation of provisions and valuables—so plentiful it is likened to an ocean of intoxicating luxuries.