Shloka 13

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 193 — Hastināpura Mantra: Duryodhana’s Proposals to Divide the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

उच्चावचं पार्थिवभोजनीयं पात्रीषु जाम्बूनदराजतीषु । दासाश्ष दास्यश्व सुमृष्टवेषा: सम्भोजकाश्षाप्युपजहुरज्ञम्‌,तब स्वच्छ और सुन्दर पोशाक पहने हुए दास-दासी तथा रसोइयोंने सोने-चाँदीके बरतनोंमें राजाओंके भोजन करनेयोग्य अनेक प्रकारकी सामान्य और विशेष भोजन- सामग्री लाकर परोसी

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

ucchāvacaṃ pārthivabhojanīyaṃ pātrīṣu jāmbūnadarajatīṣu |

dāsāś ca dāsyaś ca sumṛṣṭaveṣāḥ sambhojakāś cāpy upajahur ajñam ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：衣着整洁的男女侍从与供膳之人，将种种食物——既有寻常之品，亦有珍馐佳肴，皆堪王者享用——盛于金银器皿之中，陈设在他们面前。此景彰显王家待客之礼，也显出以井然服侍与慷慨供给来恪守社会本分。

Word by Word

उच्चावचम्various (high and low; diverse)

पार्थिवभोजनीयम्fit to be eaten by kings (royal fare)

पात्रीषुin vessels/dishes

जाम्बूनदराजतीषुof gold and silver

दासाःmale servants

दास्यःfemale servants

चand

सुमृष्टवेषाःwearing well-polished/clean attire; well-dressed

सम्भोजकाःservers/caterers (those who serve food)

अपिalso

उपजहुःbrought near / presented / served

अज्ञम्the unknown one (incognito person)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

gold vessels (jāmbūnada-pātra)

silver vessels (rajata-pātra)

male servants (dāsāḥ)

female servants (dāsyaḥ)

servers (sambhojakāḥ)

royal food (pārthiva-bhojanīya anna)

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 dharma expressed as proper hospitality and orderly service: those responsible for serving do so with cleanliness, decorum, and generosity, reflecting ethical conduct within a royal setting.

What is happening in the narrative?

A formal meal is being served: well-dressed male and female attendants and servers bring a wide variety of foods suitable for kings, presenting them in gold and silver vessels.