Shloka 19

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Procession, Encampment (Niveśa), and Auspicious Timing for Ritual Action

Devanagari script

ततो ययु: पाण्डुसुता ब्राह्मणान्‌ स्वस्ति वाच्य च । अर्चयित्वा सुरश्रेष्ठ॑ पूर्वमेव महेश्वरम्‌

Transliteration

tato yayuḥ pāṇḍusutā brāhmaṇān svasti vācya ca | arcayitvā suraśreṣṭhaṃ pūrvam eva maheśvaram |

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：于是，般度之子们启程之前，先请婆罗门宣诵吉祥祝祷。他们在一切之先礼敬大自在天摩诃湿伐罗——诸神之中最尊胜者；随后方才上路，承受祝福，确信此行契合神圣礼法与正法之道。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय

• ययुः: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• पाण्डु-सुताः: the sons of Pाण्डु (the Pāṇḍavas)
• पाण्डु-सुताः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डुसुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• स्वस्ति: well-being; auspiciousness
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वस्ति (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय

• वाच्य: to be uttered/recited (as a blessing)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) → वाच्य (कृदन्त, भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अव्ययतया प्रयोगः/कर्तव्यत्वे)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय

• अर्चयित्वा: having worshipped
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु) → अर्चयित्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा (अव्ययकृदन्त), पूर्वकाल

• सुर-श्रेष्ठम्: the best of the gods
• सुर-श्रेष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरश्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: first, beforehand
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय

• महेश्वरम्: Mahēśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍavas (sons of Pāṇḍu)
• Brāhmaṇas
• Maheśvara (Śiva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Before undertaking major actions, one should seek auspicious blessings and place the act under sacred discipline—honouring the divine and the learned (Brāhmaṇas) so that the journey proceeds in harmony with dharma rather than mere impulse.

What is happening in the narrative?

The Pāṇḍavas prepare to depart. They first arrange for Brāhmaṇas to recite blessings (svasti) and worship Maheśvara (Śiva) as the foremost divine protector, and then begin their journey with confidence and ritual propriety.