Shloka 2

Ādi-parva Adhyāya 209: Śaraṇāgati of the Cursed Apsarases; Nārītīrtha-prasiddhi; Arjuna’s Vimocana

Devanagari script

सुहृद्धिरप्यनुज्ञाती दैत्यर्वृद्धैश्व मन्त्रिभि: । कृत्वा प्रास्थानिकं रात्रौ मघासु ययतुस्तदा,सुहृदों तथा दैत्यजातीय बूढ़े मन्त्रियोंकी अनुमति लेकर उन्होंने रातके समय मघा नक्षत्रमें प्रस्थान करके यात्रा प्रारम्भ की

Transliteration

suhṛddhir apy anuñjātī daityair vṛddhaiś ca mantribhiḥ | kṛtvā prāsthānikaṃ rātrau maghāsu yayatus tadā ||

Translation

దైత్యవృద్ధులు మరియు వారి మంత్రుల అనుమతి పొందిన సుహృద్ధి, ప్రయాణారంభ కర్మలను నిర్వహించాడు. ఆపై మఘా నక్షత్ర రాత్రి వేళ వారు ఇద్దరూ బయలుదేరి యాత్ర ప్రారంభించారు.

Word by Word

सुहृद्भिःby friends, with well-wishers

अपिalso, even

अनुज्ञातौhaving been permitted/allowed

दैत्यैःby the Daityas (demons)

वृद्धैःby the elders

चand

मन्त्रिभिःby ministers/counsellors

कृत्वाhaving done/made

प्रास्थानिकम्departure-rite/preparations for departure

रात्रौat night

मघासुin (the) Maghā (nakṣatra)

ययतुःthe two went/journeyed

तदाthen, at that time

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

न

नारद (Nārada)

स

सुहृद्धि (Suhṛddhi)

द

दैत्य (Daityas)

म

मन्त्रि (ministers/counsellors)

म

मघा नक्षत्र (Maghā nakṣatra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a norm of dhārmic conduct in governance and personal action: one should seek the counsel and consent of elders and ministers and observe proper rites, even when circumstances require a night departure. Ethical action is framed as disciplined, consultative, and ritually mindful.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada narrates that Suhṛddhi, after receiving approval from senior Daityas and their counsellors, performed the customary departure observances and then the two set out at night during the Maghā nakṣatra to begin their journey.