Shloka 7

Adhyāya 208: Aṅgirasī-kanyāḥ

Enumeration of Aṅgiras’ daughters and attribute-names

Devanagari script

गोपुराट्टालकवतीं हर्म्यप्राकारशो भनाम्‌ । प्रविश्य नगरीं रम्यां विमानैर्बहुभिर्युताम्‌

Transliteration

gopurāṭṭālakavatīṁ harmyaprākāraśobhanām | praviśya nagarīṁ ramyāṁ vimānair bahubhir yutām ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya nói: Bước vào đô thành diễm lệ ấy—có cổng thành cao vút và tháp canh sừng sững, đẹp bởi dinh thự và tường lũy, lại đầy những lâu đài vươn lên như ở giữa không trung—ta chứng kiến vẻ huy hoàng rực rỡ của nó.

Word by Word

• गोपुर: gateway, gatehouse
• गोपुर: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपुर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अट्टालक: watch-tower, turret
• अट्टालक: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अट्टालक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वतीम्: possessing (having)
• वतीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वत् (मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• हर्म्य: mansion, palace
• हर्म्य: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्म्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्राकार: rampart, enclosing wall
• प्राकार: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राकार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शोभनाम्: beautiful, splendid
• शोभनाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• नगरीम्: city
• नगरीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगरी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• रम्याम्: delightful, lovely
• रम्याम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• विमानैः: with aerial cars / palatial structures
• विमानैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बहुभिः: many
• बहुभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• युताम्: endowed with, furnished with
• युताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• nagarī (a city)
• gopura (gateways)
• aṭṭālaka (watchtowers)
• harmya (mansions)
• prākāra (ramparts)
• vimāna (vimānas/lofty palaces)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the allure of royal prosperity—fortifications, palaces, and vimānas—implicitly preparing the listener to consider how external grandeur is not a guarantee of lasting security; ethical reflection in the Mahābhārata often contrasts such splendor with the instability of fortune and the need for dharmic discernment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes entering a magnificent, well-fortified city, rich in architectural and royal splendor. This functions as vivid scene-setting within his narration, highlighting the city’s power and beauty before subsequent events or reflections unfold.