Shloka 18

पाण्डवानां पाञ्चालगमनम्

The Pāṇḍavas’ Journey toward Pāñcāla and News of the Svayaṃvara

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्र उवाच क्षत्रियो5हं भवान्‌ विप्रस्तपस्स्वाध्यायसाधन:,विश्वामित्रजी बोले--मैं क्षत्रिय राजा हूँ और आप तपस्या तथा स्वाध्यायका साधन करनेवाले ब्राह्मण हैं

Transliteration

Viśvāmitra uvāca: kṣatriyo 'haṃ bhavān vipras tapaḥsvādhyāya-sādhanaḥ.

Translation

毗湿瓦密多罗说道：“我乃刹帝利，为王者之身；而你是婆罗门，以苦行为业，以诵习圣典（自学，svādhyāya）为修持。”

Word by Word

विश्वामित्रःViśvāmitra

उवाचsaid

क्षत्रियःa Kshatriya

अहम्I

भवान्you (honorific)

विप्रःa Brahmin

तपःby austerities

स्वाध्यायby self-study (Vedic recitation)

साधनःone who practices/engages in

Speaker

विश्वामित्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

Viśvāmitra

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

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 role-based dharma: a kṣatriya is defined by governance and protection, while a brāhmaṇa is defined by tapas (austerity) and svādhyāya (sacred study). Ethical conduct is implied to follow one’s discipline and station rather than mere power or status.

What is happening in the narrative?

Viśvāmitra introduces himself and addresses the other person respectfully as a brāhmaṇa, emphasizing their differing identities—royal kṣatriya versus ascetic scholar—often as a preface to a request, negotiation, or a dharmic discussion about proper conduct.