Shloka 14

Kaurava Mobilization at Kurukṣetra (Duryodhana Orders War Preparations) / कुरुक्षेत्रे धार्तराष्ट्र-सैन्यसज्जा

Devanagari script

श्लाघ्य: पार्थिववंशस्य प्रमुखे वाहिनीपति: । पुत्रपौत्रै: परिवृत: शतशाख इव द्रुम:

Transliteration

ślāghyaḥ pārthivavaṁśasya pramukhe vāhinīpatiḥ | putrapautraiḥ parivṛtaḥ śataśākha iva drumaḥ ||

Translation

అతడు రాజవంశానికి శ్లాఘ్యుడై, ముందుభాగంలో సేనాధిపతిగా నిలిచాడు. కుమారులు, మనుమలతో చుట్టుముట్టబడి, శతశాఖల వృక్షంలా విరాజిల్లాడు.

Word by Word

श्लाघ्यःpraiseworthy

पार्थिव-वंशस्यof the royal lineage

प्रमुखेin the forefront / at the head

वाहिनी-पतिःcommander of an army

पुत्र-पौत्रैःby/with sons and grandsons

परिवृतःsurrounded

शत-शाखःhaving a hundred branches

इवlike / as

द्रुमःtree

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

vāhinīpati (army commander)

pārthiva-vaṁśa (royal dynasty)

sons

grandsons

tree (druma)

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 praises leadership rooted in dharmic kingship: a worthy commander stands foremost, supported by an ordered lineage. The image of a many-branched tree suggests stability, continuity, and responsibility—power is strengthened when family and followers are integrated under righteous leadership.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a prominent army commander positioned at the front of the host, attended by his sons and grandsons. The scene emphasizes martial readiness and the visible strength of a royal house through its descendants and retainers.