Shloka 21

शकुनेः पुत्रेण सह आश्वमेधाश्वविषयः संघर्षः — Arjuna’s restrained engagement with Śakuni’s son during the horse-escort

Devanagari script

वाहनानां च विविधा: शाला: शालीक्षुगोरसै: । उपेता भरतमश्रेष्ठो व्यादिदेश च धर्मराट्‌,भरतभूषण! धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने उन राजाओंकी सवारियोंके लिये भी धान, ऊँख और गोरससे भरे-पूरे घर दिये

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca | Vāhanānāṃ ca vividhāḥ śālāḥ śālyikṣugorasaiḥ | upetā bharataśreṣṭho vyādideśa ca dharmarāṭ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Vua Yudhiṣṭhira, bậc Dharmarāja, người ưu tú nhất trong dòng Bharata, truyền dựng nhiều loại nhà trại và chuồng bãi cho xe cộ cùng ngựa của các vua đến dự, lại cấp đủ gạo, mía và các sản vật từ sữa, để cả đoàn tùy tùng lẫn súc vật đều được chăm nom theo đúng dharma.

Word by Word

वाहनानाम्of the vehicles/mounts

चand

विविधाःvarious

शालाःhalls/sheds (stables, shelters)

शालिwith rice/paddy

इक्षुwith sugarcane

गोरसैःwith milk/curds etc. (cow-products)

उपेताःprovided with; furnished with

भरतमश्रेष्ठःthe best of the Bharatas

व्यादिदेशordered; directed

चand

धर्मराट्the king of dharma (Dharmaraja)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja/Dharmarāṭ, Bharataśreṣṭha)

vāhana (mounts/vehicles)

śālā (shelters/stables)

śāli (rice)

ikṣu (sugarcane)

gorasa (dairy produce)

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?

A dharmic ruler practices hospitality comprehensively: honoring guests includes caring for their attendants, animals, and logistical needs, not merely offering ceremonial respect.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Ashvamedha-related gatherings, Yudhiṣṭhira orders well-stocked shelters for the visiting kings’ mounts and conveyances, supplying staple foods and dairy to ensure orderly, respectful accommodation.