Shloka 12

Adhyāya 33: Antarvedī-Samāgama, Arghya-Nirṇaya, and Śiśupāla’s Objection

Devanagari script

प्राकार: सर्ववृष्णीनामापत्स्वभयदो<रिहा । बलाधिकारे निक्षिप्य सम्यगानकदुन्दुभिम्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

prākāraḥ sarvavṛṣṇīnām āpatsu abhayado 'rihā |

balādhikāre nikṣipya samyag ānakadundubhim |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: “Ngài như một thành lũy của toàn thể dòng Vṛṣṇi—ban sự vô úy trong lúc nguy biến và tiêu diệt kẻ thù của họ. Sau khi cung kính đặt Ānakadundubhi (Vasudeva) nắm quyền chỉ huy quân lực Dvārakā, Mādhava—sư tử giữa loài người—đã đến nơi ấy cùng một đại quân, mang theo nhiều loại của cải và châu báu làm lễ vật dâng lên Dharmarāja.”

Word by Word

• प्राकारः: rampart, protective wall
• प्राकारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राकार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्ववृष्णीनाम्: of all the Vrishnis
• सर्ववृष्णीनाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-वृष्णि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• आपत्सु: in calamities, in crises
• आपत्सु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद्
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• अभयदः: giver of fearlessness
• अभयदः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभय-द
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अरिहा: slayer of enemies
• अरिहा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरि-हन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बलाधिकारे: in/into the command of the army
• बलाधिकारे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल-अधिकार
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• निक्षिप्य: having placed, having entrusted
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-क्षिप्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• सम्यक्: properly, duly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्

• आनकदुन्दुभिम्: Anakadundubhi (Vasudeva, father of Krishna)
• आनकदुन्दुभिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनकदुन्दुभि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Vṛṣṇis
• Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa)
• Ānakadundubhi (Vasudeva)
• Dvārakā
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• army (senā)
• wealth and jewels (dhana-ratna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights righteous leadership and social duty: a true protector provides fearlessness in adversity, restrains threats, and establishes proper command structures. It also underscores ethical alliance-building—honoring Dharmarāja with gifts while maintaining order at home by entrusting authority to a capable elder.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛṣṇa is described as the Vṛṣṇis’ safeguard. Before going to meet Yudhiṣṭhira, he formally entrusts military authority in Dvārakā to his father Vasudeva (Ānakadundubhi) and then proceeds with a large force, bringing valuable offerings for Dharmarāja.