Shloka 5
Kārtavīrya–Samudra Saṃvāda and the Jāmadagnya Precedent (आश्वमेधिक पर्व, अध्याय २९)
Devanagari script
मदाश्रयाणि भूतानि त्वद्विसष्टेर्महेषुभि: । वध्यन्ते राजशार्दूल तेभ्यो देहाभयं विभो
Transliteration
madāśrayāṇi bhūtāni tvadvisṛṣṭair maheṣubhiḥ | vadhyante rājaśārdūla tebhyo dehābhayaṃ vibho ||
Translation
“王中之虎、威能之主啊：因你所放出的这些巨箭，寄身于我体内的众生正在被杀戮。愿你赐他们免受形体伤害的安护。”
Word by Word
मदाश्रयाणिhaving me as their refuge / dependent on me
मदाश्रयाणि:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमद्-आश्रय (आश्रय)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
भूतानिcreatures, beings
भूतानि:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभूत
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
त्वद्विसृष्टैःreleased by you
त्वद्विसृष्टैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootत्वद्-विसृष्ट (विसृज्)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
महेषुभिःby great arrows
महेषुभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootमहेषु
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
वध्यन्तेare being slain
वध्यन्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootवध्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Atmanepada, Passive
राजशार्दूलO tiger among kings
राजशार्दूल:
TypeNoun
Rootराजशार्दूल
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
तेभ्यःto them
तेभ्यः:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Dative, Plural
देहाभयम्bodily safety / freedom from bodily fear
देहाभयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदेह-अभय
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
विभोO mighty one
विभो:
TypeNoun
Rootविभु
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
Speaker
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Characters & Entities
ब
ब्राह्मण (Brāhmaṇa speaker)र
राजशार्दूल (addressed king/warrior)म
महेषु (great arrows)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Even in a martial context, power must be governed by dharma: a ruler should restrain violence and protect dependent, vulnerable beings, granting them ‘dehābhaya’—security from bodily harm.
A brāhmaṇa, addressing a king/hero who is shooting powerful arrows, pleads that the creatures dwelling within or dependent on him are being killed by those arrows and asks the king to stop and grant them safety.