Shloka 7

Adhyāya 208: Aṅgirasī-kanyāḥ

Enumeration of Aṅgiras’ daughters and attribute-names

Devanagari script

गोपुराट्टालकवतीं हर्म्यप्राकारशो भनाम्‌ । प्रविश्य नगरीं रम्यां विमानैर्बहुभिर्युताम्‌

Transliteration

gopurāṭṭālakavatīṁ harmyaprākāraśobhanām | praviśya nagarīṁ ramyāṁ vimānair bahubhir yutām ||

Translation

Маркандейя сказал: Войдя в тот дивный город — украшенный высокими воротами и сторожевыми башнями, прекрасный дворцами и крепостными стенами и полный множества виман, — я узрел его блистательное величие.

Word by Word

• गोपुर: gateway, gatehouse
• गोपुर: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपुर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अट्टालक: watch-tower, turret
• अट्टालक: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अट्टालक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वतीम्: possessing (having)
• वतीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वत् (मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• हर्म्य: mansion, palace
• हर्म्य: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्म्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्राकार: rampart, enclosing wall
• प्राकार: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राकार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शोभनाम्: beautiful, splendid
• शोभनाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• नगरीम्: city
• नगरीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगरी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• रम्याम्: delightful, lovely
• रम्याम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• विमानैः: with aerial cars / palatial structures
• विमानैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बहुभिः: many
• बहुभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• युताम्: endowed with, furnished with
• युताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• nagarī (a city)
• gopura (gateways)
• aṭṭālaka (watchtowers)
• harmya (mansions)
• prākāra (ramparts)
• vimāna (vimānas/lofty palaces)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the allure of royal prosperity—fortifications, palaces, and vimānas—implicitly preparing the listener to consider how external grandeur is not a guarantee of lasting security; ethical reflection in the Mahābhārata often contrasts such splendor with the instability of fortune and the need for dharmic discernment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes entering a magnificent, well-fortified city, rich in architectural and royal splendor. This functions as vivid scene-setting within his narration, highlighting the city’s power and beauty before subsequent events or reflections unfold.