Shloka 5

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 188 — Draupadī-Vivāha Dharma-Vicāra

Debate on the Legitimacy of One Wife for Five

Devanagari script

अयं हि सर्वानाहूय सत्कृत्य च नराधिपान्‌ | गुणवद्‌ भोजयित्वान्नं ततः पश्चान्न मन्यते,“पहले तो इसने हम सब राजाओंको बुलाकर सत्कार किया, उत्तम गुणयुक्त भोजन कराया और ऐसा करनेके बाद यह हमारा अपमान कर रहा है

Transliteration

ayaṁ hi sarvān āhūya satkṛtya ca narādhipān | guṇavad bhojayitvānnaṁ tataḥ paścān na manyate |

Translation

ఈ వాడు ముందుగా సమస్త నరాధిపతులను పిలిచి సత్కరించి, ఉత్తమ గుణములు గల భోజనమును పెట్టి; ఆ తరువాత మనలను గౌరవించక, అవమానిస్తున్నాడు.

Word by Word

अयम्this (man)

हिindeed/for

सर्वान्all

आहूयhaving summoned/called

सत्कृत्यhaving honored

चand

नराधिपान्kings (lords of men)

गुणवत्excellent/possessing good qualities

भोजयित्वाhaving fed/caused to eat

अन्नम्food

ततःthen/thereafter

पश्चात्afterwards

नnot

मन्यतेthinks/considers (us)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

narādhipa (kings)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True dharma is consistent: honoring guests and allies must be matched by continued respect. To offer hospitality and then disregard or insult the same people is an ethical contradiction and a breach of royal conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports a complaint or accusation: someone first convened the assembled kings, received them with honor, and fed them well, but afterwards behaves as though they are of no account—interpreted as an affront to their status.