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

وہ شاہی نسل کا قابلِ ستائش مرد، صفِ اوّل میں لشکر کا سالار تھا۔ بیٹوں اور پوتوں سے گھرا ہوا وہ سو شاخوں والے درخت کی مانند جلوہ گر تھا۔

Word by Word

• श्लाघ्यः: praiseworthy
• श्लाघ्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लाघ्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पार्थिव-वंशस्य: of the royal lineage
• पार्थिव-वंशस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिववंश
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• प्रमुखे: in the forefront / at the head
• प्रमुखे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमुख
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• वाहिनी-पतिः: commander of an army
• वाहिनी-पतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहिनीपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुत्र-पौत्रैः: by/with sons and grandsons
• पुत्र-पौत्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रपौत्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• परिवृतः: surrounded
• परिवृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि√वृ (परिवृत)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शत-शाखः: having a hundred branches
• शत-शाखः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शतशाख
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like / as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• द्रुमः: tree
• द्रुमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• vāhinīpati (army commander)
• pārthiva-vaṁśa (royal dynasty)
• sons
• grandsons
• tree (druma)

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.