Shloka 16

Traigarta Attempt to Seize the Aśvamedha Horse; Arjuna’s Restraint and Tactical Victory

Devanagari script

एवमाद्या मनुष्याणां स्त्रीणां च भरतर्षभ

Transliteration

evamādyā manuṣyāṇāṃ strīṇāṃ ca bharatarṣabha

Translation

வைசம்பாயனன் கூறினான்— “ஓ பாரதர்களில் சிறந்தவனே! மனிதர்களிடையிலும் பெண்களிடையிலும் ஆதியிலிருந்தே இத்தகைய (வாக்கு/ஆசி) வழக்கமாக இருந்தது.”

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• आद्याः: first, original (ones)
• आद्याः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• मनुष्याणाम्: of men/humans
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भरतर्षभ: O bull among the Bharatas (best of Bharatas)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत-ऋषभ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Bharatarṣabha (addressee, likely Janamejaya)
• manuṣyāḥ (humankind)
• striyaḥ (women)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line functions as a summarizing transition: it frames the preceding account as an account of “first beginnings/precedents” concerning humans and women, implying that present social or ethical patterns are being grounded in an ancient origin narrative.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses the Bharata king (Bharatarṣabha) and concludes or bridges a section by stating that what has just been described pertains to the earliest state or origins of humankind and of women.