Shloka 16

यमसभावर्णनम् (Yamasabhā-varṇanam) — Nārada’s Description of Dharmarāja’s Assembly

Devanagari script

करन्धमो बाह्नविकश्न सुद्युम्नो बलवान्‌ मधु: । ऐलो मरुत्तश्न तथा बलवान्‌ पृथिवीपति:

Transliteration

Karaṇdhamaḥ Bāhnavikaś ca Sudyumno balavān Madhuḥ | Ailo Maruttaś ca tathā balavān Pṛthivīpatiḥ ||

Translation

Nārada nói: “Karaṇdhama, Bāhnavika và Sudyumna; Madhu hùng mạnh; lại có Aila và Marutta—mỗi vị đều là bậc quân vương quyền thế, chúa tể cõi đất.” Trong bối cảnh này, Nārada nêu danh sách những vua chúa lừng lẫy để nhấn mạnh bài học đạo lý: ngay cả những kẻ trị vì mạnh nhất và những dòng dõi hiển hách nhất cũng phải chịu sự chi phối của thời gian và số mệnh; sự vĩ đại không chỉ đo bằng quyền lực, mà bằng cách dùng quyền lực theo dharma.

Word by Word

• करन्धमः: Karandhama (a king)
• करन्धमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: करन्धम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बाह्नविकः: Bāhnavika (a king/person)
• बाह्नविकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्नविक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्नः: (unclear/possibly scribal corruption)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्न (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यक्त)
• Form: Text appears corrupt/uncertain; treated as indeclinable particle/fragment

• सुद्युम्नः: Sudyumna (a king)
• सुद्युम्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बलवान्: mighty, powerful
• बलवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मधुः: Madhu (a king/person)
• मधुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ऐलः: Aila (descendant of Ila; a king)
• ऐलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मरुत्तः: Marutta (a king)
• मरुत्तः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरुत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्न: (unclear/possibly scribal corruption)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्न (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यक्त)
• Form: Text appears corrupt/uncertain; treated as indeclinable particle/fragment

• तथा: and also, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• बलवान्: mighty, powerful
• बलवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पृथिवीपतिः: lord of the earth, king
• पृथिवीपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• नारद (Nārada)
• करन्धम (Karaṇdhama)
• बाह्नविक (Bāhnavika)
• सुद्युम्न (Sudyumna)
• मधु (Madhu)
• ऐल (Aila)
• मरुत्त (Marutta)
• पृथिवीपति (Pṛthivīpati, 'king/sovereign')

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

By naming celebrated, powerful kings, Nārada highlights the transience of worldly power and reputation. The implied ethical point is that sovereignty and strength are not permanent; therefore a ruler should ground conduct in dharma rather than pride, conquest, or mere display of might.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is speaking and reciting a catalogue of eminent rulers—Karaṇdhama, Bāhnavika, Sudyumna, Madhu, Aila, and Marutta—describing them as powerful lords of the earth. The list functions as an illustrative reminder within the discourse, pointing to the broader reflection on royal greatness and its limits.