Shloka 40

Droṇa’s Ācārya-Dakṣiṇā: Capture of Drupada and Division of Pāñcāla (द्रोण-आचार्यदक्षिणा)

Devanagari script

उपस्थानगहै: शुभ्रेवलभीभिश्न शोभितम्‌ । गवाक्षकैस्तथा जालैर्यन्त्रै: सांचारिकेरपि

Transliteration

upasthānagṛhaiḥ śubhra-valabhībhiś ca śobhitam | gavākṣakaiḥ tathā jālair yantraiḥ sāñcārikair api ||

Translation

وہ باغ شاندار استقبالیہ ایوانوں، روشن سفید بالکنیوں اور چھجّوں، روشن دانوں اور جالی دار پردوں، اور ادھر اُدھر لے جائے جانے والے پانی چھڑکنے کے آلات سے آراستہ تھا۔

Word by Word

• उपस्थानगृहैः: by/with assembly-halls (places of attendance)
• उपस्थानगृहैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपस्थानगृह
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शुभ्र-एवलभीभिः: with white balconies/overhangs
• शुभ्र-एवलभीभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ्र-एवलभी
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• शोभितम्: adorned, beautified
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• गवाक्षकैः: with windows/arched openings
• गवाक्षकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गवाक्षक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तथा: and also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• जालैः: with lattices/nets
• जालैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• यन्त्रैः: with devices/engines
• यन्त्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सञ्चारिकैः: movable/portable
• सञ्चारिकैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सञ्चारिक
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• royal garden (udyāna)
• reception/assembly halls (upasthāna-gṛha)
• balconies/eaves (valabhī)
• windows (gavākṣa)
• lattices/screens (jāla)
• portable sprinkling devices (sāñcārika-yantra)
• wells/stepwells (bāvalī/bāvī implied by Hindi gloss)
• ponds (tadāga implied by Hindi gloss)
• lotuses (kamala implied by Hindi gloss)
• flowers (puṣpa implied by Hindi gloss)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights the ideal of cultivated kingship: prosperity expressed through order, cleanliness, artistry, and care for public/royal spaces. Ethical emphasis is indirect—good governance is reflected in well-maintained, harmonious environments rather than mere power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a royal pleasure-garden and recreation-building being readied and beautified—architectural features, decorative painting, waterworks, and seasonal flowers together create an atmosphere of refined splendor.