Shloka 26

Śaṅkha–Likhita Upākhyāna: Daṇḍa, Confession, and the Purification of Kingship (शङ्ख-लिखितोपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

तानिमे भरतश्रेष्ठ प्राप्तुवन्तु महारथा: । “तात! महाराज युधिष्ठिर! वनमें रहते समय तुम्हारे मनस्वी भाइयोंके मनमें जो-जो मनोरथ उत्पन्न हुए थे, भरतश्रेष्ठ! उन्हें ये महारथी वीर प्राप्त करें,संयुक्तात्मा समरेष्वाततायी शस्त्रैश्छिन्नो दस्युभिर्वध्यमान: । अश्वग्रीव: कर्मशीलो महात्मा संसिद्धार्थों मोदते स्वर्गलोके “वे अपने मनको वशमें करके समरांगणमें हथियार लेकर शत्रुओंका वध कर रहे थे; परंतु डाकुओंने उन्हें अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंसे छिन्न-भिन्न करके मार डाला। इस समय कर्मपरायण महामनस्वी हयग्रीव पूर्णमनोरथ होकर स्वर्गलोकमें आनन्द कर रहे हैं

Transliteration

tān ime bharataśreṣṭha prāptuvantu mahārathāḥ | tāt! mahārāja yudhiṣṭhira! vanam̐ me r̥hate samaye tava manasvino bhrātṝṇāṁ manasi yo yo manoratha utpanna āsīt, bharataśreṣṭha! tān ime mahārathī vīrāḥ prāpnuvantu | saṁyuktātmā samareṣv ātātāyī śastraiś chinnaḥ dasyubhir vadhyamānaḥ | aśvagrīvaḥ karmaśīlo mahātmā saṁsiddhārtho modate svargaloke ||

Translation

ఓ భరతశ్రేష్ఠా! అరణ్యవాసకాలంలో నీ మనస్వి సోదరుల హృదయాలలో ఏ ఏ ఆశయాలు పుట్టాయో, అవన్నీ ఈ మహారథులు పొందుగాక. అతడు సంయతచిత్తుడై సమరంలో ఆతతాయివలె శస్త్రాలు ధరించి శత్రువులను సంహరించినప్పటికీ, దస్యులు అతనిని ఆయుధాలతో చీల్చి హతమార్చారు. ఇప్పుడు కర్మనిష్ఠ మహాత్ముడు అశ్వగ్రీవుడు, సిద్ధార్థుడై, స్వర్గలోకంలో ఆనందిస్తున్నాడు.

Word by Word

तान्those (wishes/goals)

इमेthese

भरतश्रेष्ठO best of the Bharatas

प्राप्तुवन्तुmay (they) obtain

महारथाःgreat chariot-warriors

संयुक्तात्माself-controlled / composed-minded

समरेषुin battles

आततायीan aggressor / assailant

शस्त्रैःwith weapons

छिन्नःcut / severed

दस्युभिःby robbers

वध्यमानःbeing slain

अश्वग्रीवःAśvagrīva (Horse-necked, proper name)

कर्मशीलःdiligent in action

महात्माgreat-souled one

संसिद्धार्थःone whose aims are fulfilled

मोदतेrejoices

स्वर्गलोकेin heaven-world

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Yudhiṣṭhira

Pāṇḍava brothers (collective reference)

Aśvagrīva

bandits (dasyu)

forest (vana)

heaven (svargaloka)

weapons (śastra)

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 passage contrasts intention and outcome: even disciplined, valorous effort in war can be overturned by unforeseen violence, yet ethical valuation is framed through karma and fulfillment—one who is ‘karmaśīla’ and ‘saṁsiddhārtha’ is portrayed as attaining heavenly joy. It underscores the Mahābhārata theme that results are not fully controllable, but duty and inner resolve remain morally significant.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses Yudhiṣṭhira, invoking the wishes that arose in the Pāṇḍavas’ hearts during their forest life and expressing a benediction that great warriors may attain those aims. He then notes that, despite fighting with controlled minds, they were cut down and killed by bandits; meanwhile, a figure named Aśvagrīva, described as industrious and noble, is said to be rejoicing in heaven with his purpose fulfilled.