Shloka 14

Nahūṣa as Ajagara: Virtue Hierarchy, Karmic Gati, and the Psychology of Mind–Intellect

Devanagari script

समेत्य राज्ञा तु सुबाहुना ते सूतैर्विशोकप्रमुखैश्न सर्वे सहेन्द्रसेनै: परिचारिकैश्न पौरोगवैर्ये च महानसस्था:,राजा सुबाहुसे मिलकर वे विशोक आदि अपने सारथियों, इन्द्रसेन आदि परिचारकों, अग्रगामी सेवकों तथा रसोइयोंसे भी मिले

Transliteration

sametya rājñā tu subāhunā te sūtair viśokapramukhaiś ca sarve sahendrasenaiḥ paricārikaiś ca paurogavairye ca mahānasasthāḥ

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Sau khi hội kiến vua Subāhu, tất cả họ cũng gặp các người đánh xe do Viśoka đứng đầu, cùng những tùy tùng như Indrasena, các gia nhân bậc nhất trong nội phủ, và những người được phân nhiệm nơi nhà bếp hoàng gia.

Word by Word

समेत्यhaving met / after meeting

राज्ञाwith/by the king

तुbut/indeed

सुबाहुनाwith/by (king) Subāhu

तेthey

सूतैःwith charioteers

विशोकप्रमुखैःwith those headed by Viśoka

चand

सर्वेall

सहtogether with

इन्द्रसेनैःwith (those like) Indrasena

परिचारिकैःwith attendants/servitors

चand

पौरोगवैर्येin/among the leaders/foremost attendants (pauroga-vairya)

चand

महानसस्थाःthose stationed in the kitchen; cooks

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

King Subāhu

Viśoka

Indrasena

sūta (charioteers)

paricāraka/paricārikā (attendants)

paurogavairya (foremost household servants)

mahānasa (royal kitchen)

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 the ethical ideal of orderly kingship: a ruler’s success depends on respectful coordination with all ranks—drivers, attendants, senior servants, and kitchen staff—showing that dharma in governance includes valuing service, loyalty, and proper organization.

What is happening in the narrative?

The group comes to King Subāhu and formally meets not only the king but also his supporting personnel—charioteers led by Viśoka, attendants including Indrasena, senior household servants, and the kitchen staff—indicating a structured royal establishment and preparations within the court.