Shloka 15

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

Brahmā’s Synopsis of the Epic and the Logic of Divine Descents

Devanagari script

राजसूयन्ततश्चक्रुः सभां कृत्वा यतव्रताः / अर्जुनो द्वारवत्यान्तु सुभद्रां प्राप्तवान्प्रियाम् / वासुदेवस्य भगिनीमनुमत्या मुरद्विषः

Transliteration

rājasūyantataścakruḥ sabhāṃ kṛtvā yatavratāḥ / arjuno dvāravatyāntu subhadrāṃ prāptavānpriyām / vāsudevasya bhaginīmanumatyā muradviṣaḥ

Translation

其后，守持誓戒者举行了王祭（Rājasūya），并建起议事大殿；阿周那在都城德瓦拉瓦蒂（Dvāravatī）得到了心爱的苏跋陀罗（Subhadrā）——婆苏提婆（Vāsudeva）之妹——此乃蒙穆罗敌（Muradviṣa，即诛灭穆罗的奎师那）允可。

Word by Word

• राजसूयम्: the Rājasūya sacrifice
• राजसूयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसूय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (thereafter)

• चक्रुः: performed/did
• चक्रुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सभाम्: assembly hall
• सभाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made/built
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having made)

• यतव्रताः: of restrained vows/observant
• यतव्रताः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—यतं व्रतं येषाम्/यतव्रताः (कर्मधारय-प्रायः); विशेषणम् (कर्तृ-समूहस्य)

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्वारवत्याम्: in Dvāravatī
• द्वारवत्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (but/indeed)

• सुभद्राम्: Subhadrā
• सुभद्राम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुभद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राप्तवान्: obtained/won
• प्राप्तवान्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्राप्तवत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्तवत्), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; कर्तरि प्रयोगः (has obtained)

• प्रियाम्: beloved
• प्रियाम्: Karma (Qualifier of object/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सुभद्राम्)

• वासुदेवस्य: of Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• वासुदेवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• भगिनीम्: sister
• भगिनीम्: Karma (Appositional object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सुभद्रायाः अप्पोजिशन

• अनुमत्या: with the consent
• अनुमत्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुमति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• मुरद्विषः: of Muradviṣ (Kṛṣṇa, slayer/enemy of Mura)
• मुरद्विषः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुर (प्रातिपदिक) + द्विष् (धातु) → द्विष् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः—मुरं द्वेष्टि इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुषः); ‘कृष्णस्य’ इत्यर्थे

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda) — contextual epic narration within Garuda Purana

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual kingship (Rājasūya) and social order are strengthened when personal unions occur with proper consent and dharmic sanction.

Vedantic Theme: Integration of pravṛtti (worldly duty) with dharmic restraint; honoring divine will through right conduct.

Application: Pursue leadership roles ethically (accountability, public rites/commitments) and form relationships with clarity, consent, and community responsibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: capital cities

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.145 (narrative of Pandava rise and Krishna’s role)

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Subhadra
• Vasudeva (Krishna)
• Muradviṣa (Krishna)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Rājasūya sacrifice mentioned here?

This verse highlights Rājasūya as a royal consecration rite linked with righteous kingship and public order (dharma), marking sovereignty affirmed through Vedic ritual.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul as in Garuda Purana?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it situates Garuda Purana’s broader teaching within an itihāsa-style narrative framework referencing major dharmic events and exemplars.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It emphasizes disciplined conduct (yatavrata), lawful consent, and dharmic social order—reminding practitioners to align personal desires and public duties with ethical restraint and rightful permission.