Shloka 53

Adhyaya 20 — Ritadhvaja’s Companionship with the Naga Princes and the Origin of the Horse Kuvalaya

Sanskrit

शत्रुजिन्नाम भूपालस्तस्य पुत्र ऋतध्वजः ।

प्राप्यैतदश्वरत्नञ्च ख्यातिमेतेन यास्यति ॥

Transliteration

śatrujinnāma bhūpālas tasya putra ṛtadhvajaḥ | prāpyaitad aśvaratnañ ca khyātim etena yāsyati ||

Translation

శత్రుజిత్ అనే రాజు ఉన్నాడు; అతని కుమారుడు ఋతధ్వజుడు. ఈ రత్నసమానమైన అశ్వాన్ని పొందిన తరువాత అతడు దాని ద్వారానే కీర్తిని పొందును.

Word by Word

• śatrujit: Śatrujit (enemy-conqueror)
• śatrujit: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/Name-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatrujit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śatrūṇāṃ jit = ‘conqueror of enemies’)

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Name-marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), नाम-शब्दः—‘named/called’ (indeclinable appositive marker)

• bhūpālaḥ: king
• bhūpālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (bhūmēḥ pālaḥ = ‘protector of the earth’)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ṛtadhvajaḥ: Ṛtadhvaja (proper name)
• ṛtadhvajaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Name-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛta-dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—कर्मधारय (ṛtaḥ dhvajaḥ yasya / ‘ṛta as his banner’; proper name)

• prāpya: having obtained
• prāpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (धातु) + pra- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having obtained’

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• aśvaratnam: the excellent horse (horse-jewel)
• aśvaratnam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva-ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (aśvasya ratnam = ‘jewel among horses’)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• khyātim: fame
• khyātim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khyāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• etena: by this
• etena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• yāsyati: will attain/go to
• yāsyati: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the father–sons frame (pitā–putra-saṃvāda); specific speaker not explicit in this verse

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Genealogy
• Royal fame and legitimacy
• Sacred/extraordinary gifts (ratna)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Fame (khyāti) is presented as arising from the right acquisition and right use of a powerful resource (ratna). In Purāṇic ethics, such gifts increase a ruler’s responsibility: renown is meaningful when aligned with dharma rather than mere display.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily Vaṃśa (genealogy/royal line), with a secondary touch of Vaṃśānucarita (accounts of dynastic figures) through the prediction of Ṛtadhvaja’s renown.

What is the esoteric significance?

The 'aśvaratna' can symbolize disciplined vitality and royal śakti (capacity to act). When yoked to ṛta/dharma (hinted by the name Ṛtadhvaja), it becomes a vehicle for auspicious reputation rather than arrogance.