Shloka 10

उपहार-विधानम्, यक्षपूजा, रत्ननिध्युद्धारः

Offerings to Tryambaka; Yakṣa honors; Excavation of the Treasure

Devanagari script

षट्पदं नवसंख्यानं निवेशं चक्रिरे द्विजा: । मत्तानां वारणेन्द्राणां निवेशं च यथाविधि

Transliteration

ṣaṭpadaṃ navasaṅkhyānaṃ niveśaṃ cakrire dvijāḥ | mattānāṃ vāraṇendrāṇāṃ niveśaṃ ca yathāvidhi

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：婆罗门依仪制布置营地，列出六分与九分之区；又按规矩为那些处于发情狂暴之期的象王设定合宜的驻位。

Word by Word

• षट्पदम्: a six-(unit) measure/arrangement (six-footed/hexagonal)
• षट्पदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट्पद
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• नवसंख्यानम्: a nine-numbered arrangement/measure
• नवसंख्यानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवसंख्यान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• निवेशम्: encampment; arrangement; placing
• निवेशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवेश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चक्रिरे: they made; they arranged
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• द्विजाः: the Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मत्तानाम्: of intoxicated/maddened
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वारणेन्द्राणाम्: of lordly elephants; of elephant-kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारणेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• निवेशम्: encampment; arrangement; placing
• निवेशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवेश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• यथाविधि: according to rule; as prescribed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + विधि

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वैशम्पायन (Vaiśampāyana)
• द्विजाः (the brahmins/ritual experts)
• वारणेन्द्राः (lordly elephants)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as orderly procedure: even powerful forces (rutting elephants) are managed through prescribed rules, and social/ritual specialists (dvijas) ensure that public actions follow established norms rather than impulse.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the preparations in the Aśvamedhika setting, brahmins organize the encampment using traditional sixfold and ninefold divisions and assign proper stations for the musth elephants, ensuring safety and ritual correctness.