Mahabharata 2.33.49 — Sabha Parva, Adhyaya 33, Shloka 49

Adhyāya 33: Antarvedī-Samāgama, Arghya-Nirṇaya, and Śiśupāla’s Objection

Devanagari script

तेषु ते न्‍्यवसन्‌ राजन ब्राह्मणा नृपसत्कृता: | कथयन्त: कथा बद्दी: पश्यन्तो नटनर्तकान्‌

Transliteration

teṣu te nyavasan rājan brāhmaṇā nṛpasatkṛtāḥ | kathayantaḥ kathā bahvīḥ paśyanto naṭanartakān ||

Translation

О царь, в тех домах брахманы, почтённые и радушно принятые владыкой, поселились. Там они проводили время, рассказывая разные истории и глядя на представления актёров и танцовщиц.

Word by Word

• तेषु: in those (houses/places)
• तेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• न्यवसन्: dwelt, stayed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव √वस् (वस् निवासे) with नि-
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नृपसत्कृताः: honoured by the king
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृप-सत्कृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कथयन्तः: telling, narrating
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (कथने) (present participle)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कथाः: stories
• कथाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• बद्धीः: various/connected (as in linked tales)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्धी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• पश्यन्तः: seeing, watching
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (दर्शने) (present participle)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नट-नर्तकान्: actors and dancers
• नट-नर्तकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नट + नर्तक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• rājan (the king addressed)
• brāhmaṇas
• naṭas (actors)
• nartakas (dancers)
• houses/dwellings (teṣu)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic ideal of honoring learned brāhmaṇas through proper hospitality (satkāra). It also depicts how a well-ordered court sustains culture—storytelling and performance—under the patronage of the ruler.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes brāhmaṇas who, having been respectfully received by the king, settle in the provided residences. They spend time narrating various stories and watching entertainers (actors and dancers) in the royal environment.