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

Narito ang ilog Mandākinī at ang Bundok Mandara, O pinakamainam sa mga Brahmin. Sa mismong pook na ito, ang gubat na Saugandhika ay binabantayan ng mga Naiṛta (mga nilalang na rakṣasa).

Word by Word

अत्रhere

मन्दाकिनीMandākinī (river)

चand

एवindeed/also

मन्दरःMandara (mountain)

चand

द्विजर्षभO bull among the twice-born (best Brāhmaṇa)

अत्रhere

सौगन्धिकवनम्the Saugandhika forest

नैर्ऋतैःby rākṣasas/demons

अभिरक्ष्यतेis guarded/protected

द्विजश्रेष्ठO best among the twice-born

Speaker

युपर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mandākinī

Mandara (mountain)

Saugandhika-vana

Naiṛtas (rakṣasas)

dvijaśreṣṭha (addressed Brahmin)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

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.