Shloka 9

त्रिगर्त-मात्स्य-संग्रामः

The Trigarta–Matsya Engagement at Twilight

Devanagari script

तान्‌ परीप्सस्व राजेन्द्र मा नेशु: पशवस्तव । आओ तच्छृत्वा नृपति: सेनां मत्स्यानां समयोजयत्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | tān parīpsasva rājendra mā neśuḥ paśavas tava | atha tac chrutvā nṛpatiḥ senāṃ matsyānāṃ samayojayat ||

Translation

तान् परीप्सस्व राजेन्द्र मा नेशुः पशवस्तव । इति तच्छ्रुत्वा नृपतिः सेनां मत्स्यानां समयोजयत् ॥

Word by Word

• तान्: them (those)
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• परीप्सस्व: strive to recover / try to get back
• परीप्सस्व: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: परीप्स् (परि + आप्/ईप्स्; desiderative sense)
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Atmanepada

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• मा: do not / lest
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा
• Form: Prohibitive particle

• नेशुः: may (they) perish / be destroyed
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश्
• Form: Aorist (injunctive/benedictive-like under मा), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पशवः: cattle / animals
• पशवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• अथ: then / now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ
• Form: Conjunctive/temporal particle

• तत्: that (speech/matter)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada sense

• नृपतिः: the king
• नृपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सेनाम्: army
• सेनाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• मत्स्यानाम्: of the Matsyas
• मत्स्यानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• समयोजयत्: assembled / yoked together
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + युज्
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• King (Matsya ruler, Virāṭa implied)
• Matsya (Matsya-deśa)
• senā (army)
• paśavaḥ (cattle/livestock)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s dharma includes vigilant protection of wealth and livelihoods (here, cattle). Neglect invites loss and disorder; prompt, measured action to recover what is taken is presented as responsible governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Someone urges the king to attempt recovery of the stolen/abducted cattle so they are not lost. On hearing this counsel, the king gathers and organizes the Matsya army to respond.