Shloka 18

Devanagari script

रौक्मिणेयाहुकसुतैश्चवारुदेष्णपुरोगमै: । वृष्णिमुख्यैरधिगतैर्व्याप्रैरिव बलोत्कटै:

Transliteration

raukmiṇeyāhukasutaiś ca vāru-deṣṇapurogamaiḥ | vṛṣṇimukhyair adhigatair vyāprair iva balotkaṭaiḥ ||

Translation

रौक्मिणेयाहुकसुतैश्च चारुदेष्णपुरोगमैः । वृष्णिमुख्यैरधिगतैर्व्याप्रैरिव बलोत्कटैः ॥

Word by Word

रौक्मिणेयby Raukmiṇeya (Pradyumna)

आहुकसुतैःby the sons of Āhuka

चand

वारुदेष्णby Vārudeṣṇa

पुरोगमैःwith leaders at the front / led by (them)

वृष्णिमुख्यैःby the chief Vṛṣṇis

अधिगतैःarrived/come up (to him), having reached

व्याप्रैःbusy, active, engaged

इवas if / like

बलोत्कटैःmighty in strength / very powerful

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Raukmiṇeya (Pradyumna)

Āhuka (and his sons/descendants)

Vāru

Deṣṇa

Vṛṣṇis

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical-political ideal of preparedness and solidarity: capable leaders and allied clans must be organized, alert, and ready to act decisively when dharma and public order are at stake.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a scene of mobilization: prominent Vṛṣṇi leaders—Pradyumna (Raukmiṇeya), the sons of Āhuka, and others led by Vāru and Deṣṇa—assemble energetically, forming a powerful entourage ready for action.