Shloka 19

Devanagari script

क्वनुते क्षत्रिया: शूरा न हि पश्यामि तानहम्‌ । आगच्छतो महीपालान्‌ दयितानतिथीन्‌ मम

Transliteration

kvanu te kṣatriyāḥ śūrā na hi paśyāmi tān aham | āgacchato mahīpālān dayitān atithīn mama ||

Translation

Брихадашва сказал: «Где же твои доблестные кшатрии? Я их не вижу. Мои дорогие царственные гости приближаются — цари приходят как атитхи, — и твой долг принять их с почестями.»

Word by Word

• क्व: where?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व
• Form: Interrogative adverb

• नु: indeed/then (emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु
• Form: Particle (emphasis/interrogative)

• ते: those
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• क्षत्रियाः: Kshatriyas/warriors
• क्षत्रियाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• शूराः: brave/heroic
• शूराः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न
• Form: Negation

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि
• Form: Particle (for/indeed)

• पश्यामि: I see
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्
• Form: Present (लट्), parasmaipada, 1st person, singular

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, accusative, plural

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: First person pronoun, nominative, singular

• आगच्छतः: coming/approaching
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), masculine, accusative, plural

• महीपालान्: kings (protectors of the earth)
• महीपालान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपाल
• Form: Masculine, accusative, plural

• दयितान्: beloved/dear
• दयितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दयित
• Form: Masculine, accusative, plural

• अतिथीन्: guests
• अतिथीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि
• Form: Masculine, accusative, plural

• मम: of me/my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, singular

Speaker

बृहदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

• बृहदश्व (Bṛhadaśva)
• क्षत्रिय (kṣatriyas)
• महीपाल (kings)
• अतिथि (guests)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores atithi-dharma and royal responsibility: a kṣatriya household must be prepared to honor arriving guests—especially kings—with proper reception, protection, and respect.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva calls for the presence of the brave kṣatriyas and points out that royal guests (kings) are arriving; he urges readiness to receive them appropriately, implying a lapse or delay in proper hospitality.