Shloka 5

राजपूजाविधानम् / Royal Reception Protocols during Āśvamedha Preparations

Devanagari script

सुपूजिते स्वयं कुन्त्या पार्थस्य हितकाम्यया । सच राजा महातेजा: पूजितो बशभ्रुवाहन:

Transliteration

supūjite svayaṃ kuntyā pārthasya hitakāmyayā | sa ca rājā mahātejāḥ pūjito vaśabhrūvāhanaḥ ||

Translation

పార్థుని (అర్జునుని) హితాన్ని కోరిన కుంతీ స్వయంగా అతనిని విధివిధానంగా సత్కరించింది. అలాగే మహాతేజస్సుగల రాజు వృషభ్రూవాహనుడూ గౌరవపూర్వకంగా పూజింపబడ్డాడు.

Word by Word

सुपूजितेwhen (he was) well-honoured

स्वयम्personally

कुन्त्याby Kunti

पार्थस्यof Partha (Arjuna)

हितकाम्ययाdesiring the welfare (of him)

सःhe

राजाthe king

महातेजाःof great splendour

पूजितःhonoured

वृषभ्रुवाहनःthe one whose mount is a bull (epithet)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Kuntī

Pārtha (Arjuna)

King Vaśabhrūvāhana

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 underscores dharmic conduct through sincere honoring of others—especially guests or allied kings—motivated by the welfare (hita) of one’s family member (here, Arjuna), not by self-interest.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Kuntī personally offers due honor and reception; as a result, the powerful king Vaśabhrūvāhana is respectfully welcomed, with Kuntī’s intention centered on Arjuna’s benefit.