Shloka 26

Devanagari script

समेत पार्थिवं क्षत्रं काशिपुर्या स्वयंवरे

Transliteration

sameta pārthivaṃ kṣatraṃ kāśipuryā svayaṃvare

Translation

毗湿摩波衍那说道：在迦尸举行的自择婚（svayaṃvara）大典上，诸王族刹帝利尽皆云集——这昭示着一场公开的竞择：政治权势、门第血统，以及婚配选择的伦理，都要在国土众目之前接受检验。

Word by Word

• समेत: assembled, gathered (together)
• समेत: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समेत (सम् + इ + क्त)
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• पार्थिवम्: royal, of kings
• पार्थिवम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• क्षत्रम्: the warrior class; the kshatriya host
• क्षत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• काशिपुर्याम्: in Kāśī-city (Vārāṇasī)
• काशिपुर्याम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशिपुरी
• Form: feminine, locative, singular

• स्वयंवरे: at the svayaṃvara (bride-choosing ceremony)
• स्वयंवरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयंवर
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kāśī (Kāśīpurī / Vārāṇasī)
• kṣatriyas (royal warrior class)
• svayaṃvara

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how svayaṃvaras functioned as public, dharma-framed institutions where personal marriage choice intersected with kṣatriya honor and political legitimacy; ethical conduct and reputation mattered because the entire royal order served as witness.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator states that many kings and kṣatriyas have gathered in Kāśī for a svayaṃvara, setting the stage for rivalry, alliance-making, and a high-stakes public event involving royal marriage.