Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

समेत पार्थिवं क्षत्रं काशिपुर्या स्वयंवरे

Transliteration

sameta pārthivaṃ kṣatraṃ kāśipuryā svayaṃvare

Translation

Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Sa svayaṃvara na ginanap sa Kāśī, nagtipon ang buong hanay ng mga maharlikang kṣatriya—hudyat ng isang hayagang paligsahan kung saan ang kapangyarihang pampolitika, angkan, at ang etika ng pagpili sa pag-aasawa ay sinusubok sa harap ng kaharian.

Word by Word

• समेत: assembled, gathered (together)
• समेत: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समेत (सम् + इ + क्त)
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• पार्थिवम्: royal, of kings
• पार्थिवम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• क्षत्रम्: the warrior class; the kshatriya host
• क्षत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• काशिपुर्याम्: in Kāśī-city (Vārāṇasī)
• काशिपुर्याम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशिपुरी
• Form: feminine, locative, singular

• स्वयंवरे: at the svayaṃvara (bride-choosing ceremony)
• स्वयंवरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयंवर
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kāśī (Kāśīpurī / Vārāṇasī)
• kṣatriyas (royal warrior class)
• svayaṃvara

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how svayaṃvaras functioned as public, dharma-framed institutions where personal marriage choice intersected with kṣatriya honor and political legitimacy; ethical conduct and reputation mattered because the entire royal order served as witness.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator states that many kings and kṣatriyas have gathered in Kāśī for a svayaṃvara, setting the stage for rivalry, alliance-making, and a high-stakes public event involving royal marriage.