Shloka 12

Gālava’s Eastern Ascent with Garuḍa; Counsel on Kāla and Upāya (उद्योगपर्व, अध्याय ११०)

Devanagari script

अत्र मन्दाकिनी चैव मन्दरक्ष द्विजर्षभ । अत्र सौगन्धिकवन नैर्ऋतैरभिरक्ष्यते,द्विजश्रेष्ठड. यहीं मन्दाकिनी नदी और मन्दराचल हैं। इसी दिशामें राक्षसगण सौगन्धिकवनकी रक्षा करते हैं

Transliteration

atra Mandākinī caiva Mandaraś ca dvijarṣabha | atra Saugandhika-vanaṃ nairṛtair abhirakṣyate, dvijaśreṣṭha ||

Translation

โอ พราหมณ์ผู้ประเสริฐ! ที่นี่มีแม่น้ำมันดากินีและเขามันทรา ณ แดนนี้เอง เหล่าไนฤตะ (อสูรรากษส) เฝ้าพิทักษ์ป่าสาวคันธิกะ

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• मन्दाकिनी: Mandākinī (river)
• मन्दाकिनी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दाकिनी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• मन्दरः: Mandara (mountain)
• मन्दरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• द्विजर्षभ: O bull among the twice-born (best Brāhmaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजर्षभ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• सौगन्धिकवनम्: the Saugandhika forest
• सौगन्धिकवनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौगन्धिक-वन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• नैर्ऋतैः: by rākṣasas/demons
• नैर्ऋतैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैर्ऋत
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अभिरक्ष्यते: is guarded/protected
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-रक्ष्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Passive

• द्विजश्रेष्ठ: O best among the twice-born
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

युपर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mandākinī
• Mandara (mountain)
• Saugandhika-vana
• Naiṛtas (rakṣasas)
• dvijaśreṣṭha (addressed Brahmin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores discernment and caution in travel: sacred or beautiful places may still be guarded by formidable beings, so one should proceed with awareness of boundaries and protection.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yuparṇa points out landmarks—Mandākinī and Mount Mandara—and warns/informs that the nearby Saugandhika forest is under the protection of Naiṛtas (rakṣasa guardians), indicating a potentially dangerous or restricted region.