Shloka 2

अक्षदेवन-प्रवर्तनम् | Commencement of the Dice Game

Devanagari script

धृतिमन्तो दह्वीनिषेवा धर्मात्मानो यशस्विन: । मूर्धाभिषिक्तास्ते चैनं राजान: पर्युपासते

Transliteration

dhṛtimanto dahvīniṣevā dharmātmāno yaśasvinaḥ | mūrdhābhiṣiktās te cainaṃ rājānaḥ paryupāsate ||

Translation

వారు ధైర్యవంతులు, అగ్నిసేవలో నిమగ్నులు, ధర్మాత్ములు, యశస్సుగలవారు; రాజ్యాభిషేకంతో అభిషిక్తులైన ఆ రాజులు ఈ రాజుని చుట్టూ నిలిచి వినయంతో సేవిస్తున్నారు।

Word by Word

धृतिमन्तःsteadfast, resolute

दह्वीनिषेवाःdevoted to (serving) the wise/learned

धर्मात्मानःrighteous-souled

यशस्विनःglorious, renowned

मूर्धाभिषिक्ताःconsecrated (anointed on the head), crowned

तेthey

चand

एनम्him (this person)

राजानःkings

पर्युपासतेattend upon, wait upon, serve respectfully

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Duryodhana

kings (rājānaḥ)

the king referred to as 'enam' (this king)

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 traditional markers of legitimate authority: kings who are ritually consecrated and committed to dharma and Vedic rites show deference to a central sovereign. Ethical weight is placed on righteousness, self-control, and ritual discipline as foundations for political honor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana is describing the stature of a particular king (referred to as ‘this king’) by noting that many crowned and reputable rulers—known for dharma and fire-ritual observance—stand in attendance upon him, highlighting his prestige and the political hierarchy around him.