Shloka 14

Kaurava Mobilization at Kurukṣetra (Duryodhana Orders War Preparations) / कुरुक्षेत्रे धार्तराष्ट्र-सैन्यसज्जा

Devanagari script

श्लाघ्य: पार्थिववंशस्य प्रमुखे वाहिनीपति: । पुत्रपौत्रै: परिवृत: शतशाख इव द्रुम:

Transliteration

ślāghyaḥ pārthivavaṁśasya pramukhe vāhinīpatiḥ | putrapautraiḥ parivṛtaḥ śataśākha iva drumaḥ ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Sa unahan ay nakatindig ang isang pinunò ng hukbo, karapat-dapat purihin at palamuti ng angkang maharlika—napaliligiran ng kanyang mga anak at apo, na wari’y isang malaking punongkahoy na may sandaang sanga. Itinatampok ng taludtod ang huwaran ng sambahayan ng pinuno bilang buhay na salinlahi: ang lakas at pamumuno’y hindi lamang nasusukat sa sariling tapang, kundi sa pagpapatuloy, pananagutan, at maayos na pag-alalay ng pamilya at mga tagasunod.

Word by Word

श्लाघ्यःpraiseworthy

पार्थिव-वंशस्यof the royal lineage

प्रमुखेin the forefront / at the head

वाहिनी-पतिःcommander of an army

पुत्र-पौत्रैःby/with sons and grandsons

परिवृतःsurrounded

शत-शाखःhaving a hundred branches

इवlike / as

द्रुमःtree

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

vāhinīpati (army commander)

pārthiva-vaṁśa (royal dynasty)

sons

grandsons

tree (druma)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises leadership rooted in dharmic kingship: a worthy commander stands foremost, supported by an ordered lineage. The image of a many-branched tree suggests stability, continuity, and responsibility—power is strengthened when family and followers are integrated under righteous leadership.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a prominent army commander positioned at the front of the host, attended by his sons and grandsons. The scene emphasizes martial readiness and the visible strength of a royal house through its descendants and retainers.