Shloka 17

Jarītā–Śārṅgā-saṃvāda: Ākhu-haraṇa and the Approach of Agni (आखुहरणं अग्न्यागमनश्च)

Devanagari script

पौराण: श्रूयते राजन्‌ राजा हरिहयोपम: । श्वेतकिर्नाम विख्यातों बलविक्रमसंयुत:,राजन! सुना जाता है, प्राचीनकालमें इन्द्रके समान बल और पराक्रमसे सम्पन्न श्वेतकि नामके एक राजा थे

Transliteration

paurāṇaḥ śrūyate rājan rājā harihayopamaḥ | śvetakir nāma vikhyāto balavikrama-saṁyutaḥ ||

Translation

ไวศัมปายนะกล่าวว่า “ข้าแต่พระราชา ตามคติโบราณเล่ากันว่า ครั้งหนึ่งมีพระราชาผู้เลื่องชื่อพระนามว่า เศวตกิ ทรงเปี่ยมด้วยกำลังและวีรภาพ และทรงเสมอด้วยเหล่าหริหยะ.”

Word by Word

पौराणःancient, of olden times

श्रूयतेis heard / is said

राजन्O king

राजाa king

हरिहयोपमःcomparable to (Indra) Harihayas

श्वेतकिःŚvetaki (proper name)

नामby name / named

विख्यातःrenowned, famous

बलविक्रमसंयुतःendowed with strength and valor

राजन्O king

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Śvetaki

Harihayas

King (listener addressed as rājan)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames exemplary kingship through inherited tradition: a ruler’s worth is measured by recognized virtues—strength and valor—while being situated within respected lineages, underscoring how ethical and political ideals are preserved and transmitted by śruti-like report (“śrūyate”).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana introduces an ancient account by naming a celebrated king, Śvetaki, describing him as famed and endowed with power and heroism, and likening him to the illustrious Harihaya stock—setting the stage for the episode that follows.