Shloka 17

नकुलस्य प्रतीची-दिग्विजयः

Nakula’s Conquest of the Western Quarter

Devanagari script

महता बलचक्रेण परराष्ट्रावमर्दिना । हस्त्यश्वरथपूर्णेन दंशितेन प्रतापवान्‌ २ ।।

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

mahatā balacakreṇa pararāṣṭrāvamardinā |

hasty-aśva-ratha-pūrṇena daṃśitena pratāpavān ||

vṛto bharataśārṭūlo dviṣac-choka-vivardhanaḥ |

Translation

ไวศัมปายนะกล่าวว่า—โอ้ชนเมชยะ! ครานั้น ภีมเสนผู้ทรงเดช—พยัคฆ์แห่งวงศ์ภารตะ ผู้เพิ่มพูนความโศกแก่ศัตรู—รับพระบัญชาของธรรมราชแล้ว ออกไปเพื่อพิชิตทิศบูรพา โดยมีมหากองทัพอันสวมเกราะครบครัน รายล้อมดุจจักรแห่งกำลังที่บดขยี้แว่นแคว้นศัตรู เต็มไปด้วยช้าง ม้า และรถศึก

Word by Word

• महता: by/with great
• महता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• बलचक्रेण: with the army-formation/host (lit. wheel of forces)
• बलचक्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलचक्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• परराष्ट्रावमर्दिना: with (a force) that crushes enemy kingdoms
• परराष्ट्रावमर्दिना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परराष्ट्र-अवमर्दिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• हस्ति: elephant
• हस्ति: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिन्
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), —

• अश्व: horse
• अश्व: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), —

• रथ: chariot
• रथ: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), —

• पूर्णेन: filled (with)
• पूर्णेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• दंशितेन: armoured, equipped (with mail/armor)
• दंशितेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दंशित
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रतापवान्: mighty, illustrious
• प्रतापवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतापवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वृतः: surrounded, accompanied
• वृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भरतशार्दूलः: tiger among the Bharatas
• भरतशार्दूलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत-शार्दूल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्विषत्: enemy
• द्विषत्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विषत्
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), —

• शोक: grief
• शोक: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), —

• विवर्द्धनः: increasing, augmenting
• विवर्द्धनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवर्द्धन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Bharata lineage (Bharatas/Kurus)
• Army (balacakra)
• Elephants
• Horses
• Chariots
• Enemy kingdoms (para-rāṣṭra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames warfare within rajadharma: force is legitimate when exercised under rightful command and for the ordered expansion or consolidation of a kingdom, emphasizing disciplined preparedness (daṃśita) and responsibility rather than personal vendetta.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a leading Kuru hero, attended by a fully equipped, elephant-horse-chariot army, departing to crush hostile realms—specifically as part of the campaign to bring the eastern direction under control.