Shloka 23

मयेन सभानिर्माणम्

Maya’s Construction of the Assembly Hall

Devanagari script

दशकिष्कुसहस्राणि समन्तादायताभवत्‌ । यथा बल्लेर्यथार्कस्य सोमस्यथ च यथा सभा

Transliteration

daśakiṣku-sahasrāṇi samantād āyatābhavat | yathā baller yathārkasya somasyātha ca yathā sabhā

Translation

ویشَمپاین نے کہا—وہ سبھا چاروں سمتوں میں دس ہزار کِشکو تک پھیلی ہوئی تھی۔ اس کی تابانی سورج اور چاند کی درخشانی کے مانند تھی؛ وہ ایک عجیب و نمونۂ مجلس گاہ کی طرح نمایاں تھی، گویا غیر معمولی صناعی کے ذریعے ظاہر ہونے والی شاہی قوت کی علامت۔

Word by Word

• दश: ten
• दश: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

• किष्कु: krośa/measure (kisku, a unit of length)
• किष्कु: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: किष्कु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• समन्तात्: on all sides, all around
• समन्तात्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात्
• Form: true

• आयता: extended, long, spacious
• आयता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अभवत्: was, became
• अभवत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

• यथा: as, just as
• यथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा
• Form: true

• बल्लेः: of a creeper/vine
• बल्लेः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल्लि
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• यथा: as, just as
• यथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा
• Form: true

• अर्कस्य: of the sun
• अर्कस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सोमस्य: of the moon
• सोमस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• यथा: as, just as
• यथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा
• Form: true

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: true

• यथा: as, just as
• यथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा
• Form: true

• सभा: assembly hall
• सभा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सभा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• sabhā (assembly hall)
• Arka (Sun)
• Soma (Moon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how royal authority is projected through visible order, scale, and brilliance. Such splendor can inspire awe and legitimacy, but it also foreshadows how displays of power may become settings for ethical testing—where dharma is upheld or violated in public view.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing the extraordinary extent and radiance of the sabhā (assembly hall), measuring it as vast in all directions and likening its brilliance to the sun and moon, emphasizing its marvel and grandeur.