Shloka 12

Chapter 6: Dāruka’s Report; Arjuna Witnesses Dvārakā’s Desolation (दारुकवृत्तान्तः—अर्जुनस्य द्वारकादर्शनम्)

Devanagari script

गान्धारान्‌ काशिराजं च मरुभूमौ च पार्थिवान्‌ | प्राच्यांश्व दाक्षिणात्यांश्व॒ पार्वतीयांस्तथा नृपान्‌

Transliteration

gāndhārān kāśirājaṃ ca marubhūmau ca pārthivān | prācyāṃś ca dākṣiṇātyāṃś ca pārvatīyāṃs tathā nṛpān ||

Translation

گاندھار کے بادشاہوں کو، کاشی کے راجا کو، ریگستانی علاقوں کے حکمرانوں کو، اور مشرقی و جنوبی—اسی طرح پہاڑی—نریپوں کو (میں نے/انہوں نے) ایک ساتھ (یا مطیع) ہوتے دیکھا۔

Word by Word

• गान्धारान्: the Gandhāras (people/kings of Gandhāra)
• गान्धारान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• काशिराजम्: the king of Kāśī
• काशिराजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशिराज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• मरुभूमौ: in the desert-region
• मरुभूमौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरुभूमि
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

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

• पार्थिवान्: kings, rulers
• पार्थिवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्राच्यान्: eastern (kings/people)
• प्राच्यान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राच्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• दाक्षिणात्यान्: southern (kings/people)
• दाक्षिणात्यान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दाक्षिणात्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• पार्वतीयान्: mountain(-dwelling) (kings/people)
• पार्वतीयान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्वतीय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तथा: likewise, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• नृपान्: kings
• नृपान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

वसुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Gandhāra
• Kāśī (Kāśirāja)
• Marubhūmi (desert region)
• Prācya (eastern regions)
• Dākṣiṇātya (southern regions)
• Pārvatīya (mountain regions)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the vast, interconnected political world of the epic—many regions and rulers are implicated in the unfolding consequences of the Yādava-Kuru era, suggesting the breadth of responsibility and the far-reaching effects of adharma and conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vasudeva is referring to (or enumerating) various regional kings—Gandhāra, Kāśī, desert rulers, easterners, southerners, and mountain kings—situating the episode within a wider pan-Indian setting and indicating the presence/concern of multiple polities in the Mausala Parva context.