Shloka 19

Śiśupāla’s Protest Against the Arghya to Kṛṣṇa (शिशुपाल-आक्षेपः)

Devanagari script

बहुभक्ष्यान्वितान्‌ राजन्‌ दीर्घिकावृक्षशोभितान्‌ । तथा धर्मात्मज: पूजां चक्रे तेषां महात्मनाम्‌

Transliteration

bahubhakṣyānvitān rājan dīrghikāvṛkṣaśobhitān | tathā dharmātmajaḥ pūjāṃ cakre teṣāṃ mahātmanām ||

Translation

வைசம்பாயனர் கூறினார்—அரசே! அவர்களுக்கு நிறைய உணவுப் பொருட்களுடன், குளிப்புத் தொட்டிகள்/நீர்த்தடாகங்களுடன், மரங்களால் அழகுபெற்ற சிறந்த இல்லங்கள் வழங்கப்பட்டன. இவ்வாறு தர்மாத்மஜன் யுதிஷ்டிரன் அந்த மகாத்ம அரசர்களை முறையாகப் போற்றி மரியாதை செய்தான்.

Word by Word

• बहु: much, many
• बहु: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भक्ष्य: food, eatables
• भक्ष्य: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अन्वितान्: endowed with, furnished with
• अन्वितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• दीर्घिका: with a tank/pond (bathing reservoir)
• दीर्घिका: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घिका
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• वृक्ष: with trees
• वृक्ष: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शोभितान्: adorned, beautified
• शोभितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तथा: and, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• धर्मात्मजः: the son of Dharma (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• धर्मात्मजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मात्मज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पूजाम्: honour, worship, reception
• पूजाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• चक्रे: did, performed
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled (ones)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• rājan (the addressed king, i.e., Janamejaya)
• Dharmātmāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• mahātmānaḥ nṛpāḥ (great-souled kings)
• bhakṣya (provisions/food)
• dīrghikā (tanks/ponds for bathing)
• vṛkṣāḥ (trees)
• bhavana (residences/houses; implied by context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights rājadharma expressed through hospitality: a righteous king honors guests—especially fellow rulers and elders—by providing comfortable lodging, ample food, and respectful reception (pūjā), reflecting generosity and social responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Sabha Parva setting, Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmātmāja) arranges well-provisioned, pleasant residences—complete with bathing tanks and tree-filled surroundings—and formally honors the assembled great kings with proper welcome and service.