Shloka 19

Adhyāya 73: Damayantī’s Investigation of Bāhuka

Keśinī’s Observations

Devanagari script

सो<वतीर्य रथोपस्थादृतुपर्णो नराधिप: । उपतस्थे महाराजं भीम॑ भीमपराक्रमम्‌,इसके बाद राजा ऋतुपर्ण रथके पिछले भागसे उतरकर भयानक पराक्रमी महाराज भीमसे मिले

Transliteration

so’vatīrya rathopasthād ṛtuparṇo narādhipaḥ | upatasthe mahārājaṃ bhīmaṃ bhīmaparākramam ||

Translation

Rồi vua Ṛtuparṇa, bậc chúa tể loài người, xuống khỏi phần sau của chiến xa và đến bái yết Mahārāja Bhīma, người có dũng lực đáng sợ. Cảnh ấy nêu rõ phép tắc triều nghi: dẫu là bậc quyền thế, vẫn phải xuống xe, tiến đến và kính trọng sức mạnh cùng địa vị cho đúng lễ.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अवतीर्य: having descended
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-तॄ
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (sense), Non-finite

• रथोपस्थात्: from the chariot-seat/platform
• रथोपस्थात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथोपस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• ऋतुपर्णः: R̥tuparṇa
• ऋतुपर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतुपर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नराधिपः: king, lord of men
• नराधिपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नराधिप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उपतस्थे: approached, waited upon, met
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada

• महाराजम्: the great king
• महाराजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भीमम्: Bhīma
• भीमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भीमपराक्रमम्: of terrible prowess
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीमपराक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

बृहदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhadaśva
• Ṛtuparṇa
• Bhīma
• chariot (ratha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights rājanīti and social dharma: power must be tempered by propriety. A king demonstrates humility and correct protocol by dismounting and formally approaching a mighty person, acknowledging merit and status through respectful conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

King Ṛtuparṇa gets down from his chariot and goes to meet/attend upon Bhīma, described as a great king with fearsome prowess. It is a brief narrative transition marking their formal encounter.