Shloka 17

अध्याय १८४ — भैक्षविभागः, शयनविधानम्, धृष्टद्युम्नस्य निवेदनम्

Alms Distribution, Night Lodging, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s Report

Devanagari script

प्राकारपरिखोपेतो द्वारतोरणमण्डित: । वितानेन विचित्रेण सर्वतः समलंकृत:,उसके सब ओर चहारदीवारी और खाई बनी थीं। अनेक फाटक और दरवाजे उस मण्डपकी शोभा बढ़ा रहे थे। विचित्र चँदोवेसे उस सभाभवनको सब ओरसे सजाया गया था

Transliteration

prākāraparikhopeto dvāratoraṇamaṇḍitaḥ | vitānena vicitreṇa sarvataḥ samalaṅkṛtaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Nơi ấy có tường thành và hào nước bao quanh; các cổng và vòm trang trí làm tăng thêm vẻ huy hoàng. Với mái che kỳ diệu, đại sảnh được tô điểm khắp bốn phía.

Word by Word

प्राकार-परिखा-उपेतःendowed with ramparts and a moat

द्वार-तोरण-मण्डितःadorned with gates and archways

वितानेनwith a canopy/awning

विचित्रेणvariegated, wondrous

सर्वतःon all sides, everywhere

समलंकृतःfully adorned, well-decorated

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

prākāra (ramparts/walls)

parikhā (moat)

dvāra (gates)

toraṇa (archways)

vitāna (canopy)

sabhā/maṇḍapa (assembly hall/pavilion)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how a properly arranged and protected public space reflects royal responsibility: security (walls and moat) and decorum (gates, arches, canopy) support orderly, dignified proceedings aligned with social dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes an assembly hall or pavilion being presented as fortified and richly decorated—surrounded by walls and a moat, marked by gates and archways, and adorned with an ornate canopy on all sides.