Shloka 15

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 186 — Drupada’s Summons and the Pāñcāla Reception

Devanagari script

ततस्तु ते राजगणा: क्रमेण कृष्णानिमित्तं कृतविक्रमाश्न । सकर्णदुर्योधनशाल्वशल्य- द्रौणायनिक्राथसुनीथवक्रा:

Transliteration

tatastu te rājagaṇāḥ krameṇa kṛṣṇānimittaṃ kṛtavikramāś ca | sa-karṇa-duryodhana-śālva-śalya-drauṇāyani-krātha-sunītha-vakrāḥ ||

Translation

అనంతరం ఆ రాజులు క్రమంగా కృష్ణను (ద్రౌపదిని) నిమిత్తంగా చేసుకొని తమ తమ పరాక్రమాన్ని ప్రదర్శించసాగారు—కర్ణుడు, దుర్యోధనుడు, శాల్వుడు, శల్యుడు, ద్రౌణాయనుడు, క్రాథుడు, సునీథుడు, వక్రుడు మొదలైనవారు।

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• तु: but, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राजगणाः: groups of kings
• राजगणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजगण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• क्रमेण: in order, successively
• क्रमेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• कृष्ण: of Krishna
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• निमित्तम्: cause, occasion
• निमित्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमित्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कृतविक्रमाः: having performed valorous deeds / having shown prowess
• कृतविक्रमाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतविक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अशन्: ate, consumed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural

• सकर्णदुर्योधनशाल्वशल्यद्रौणायनिकृपाथसुनीथवक्राः: along with Karna, Duryodhana, Shalva, Shalya, Drona's son (Ashvatthaman), Kripa, (and) Su(n)itha/Vakra (etc.)
• सकर्णदुर्योधनशाल्वशल्यद्रौणायनिकृपाथसुनीथवक्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: सकर्ण-दुर्योधन-शाल्व-शल्य-द्रौणायनि-कृपाथ-सुनीथ-वक्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī)
• Karṇa
• Duryodhana
• Śālva
• Śalya
• Drauṇāyani (Aśvatthāmā)
• Krātha
• Sunītha
• Vakra
• rājagaṇāḥ (assembled kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how worldly competition can instrumentalize a person—here Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) becomes the ‘occasion’ for princes to exhibit prowess. It implicitly contrasts genuine dharmic valor (self-mastery, protection of others) with pride-driven performance aimed at status and conquest.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the setting of the svayaṃvara-related events, many kings and renowned warriors step forward in succession to demonstrate their strength and capability, motivated by Kṛṣṇā as the stated cause. The text lists prominent figures among those who attempt or display valor.