Shloka 4

Hiḍimbā’s Petition, Conditional Union with Bhīma, and the Birth-Naming of Ghaṭotkaca (आदि पर्व, अध्याय १४३)

Devanagari script

सर्वरत्नसमाकीर्णे पुंसां देशे मनोरमे । इत्येवं धृतराष्ट्रस्य वचनाच्चक्रिरे कथा:,“वह पवित्र नगर समस्त रत्नोंसे भरा-पूरा तथा मनुष्योंके मनको मोह लेनेवाला स्थान धृतराष्ट्रके कहनेसे वह इस प्रकारकी बातें करने लगे

Transliteration

sarvaratnasamākīrṇe puṁsāṁ deśe manora me | ityevaṁ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya vacanāc cakrire kathāḥ ||

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు చెప్పెను—సర్వ రత్నములతో నిండిన, మనుష్యుల మనస్సులను ఆకర్షించే ఆ రమణీయ దేశములో ధృతరాష్ట్రుని వచనప్రేరణచే వారు ఇట్లాంటి మాటలు చెప్పసాగిరి.

Word by Word

सर्वरत्नसमाकीर्णेin (a place) filled with all jewels

पुंसाम्of men/people

देशेin the country/place

मनोरमेdelightful/charming

इतिthus/so (quotative)

एवम्in this manner

धृतराष्ट्रस्यof Dhṛtarāṣṭra

वचनात्from (the) word/command

चक्रिरेthey made/did

कथाःtalks/conversations/stories

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

deśa (a delightful jewel-filled region)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the power of a ruler’s words to initiate and shape deliberation; even in alluring prosperity, wise discussion should be guided by responsible speech aligned with dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In a beautiful, gem-filled place, the assembled people begin a conversation as directed or prompted by Dhṛtarāṣṭra; Vaiśampāyana narrates this transition into dialogue.