Shloka 17

पाण्डव-वृष्णि-समागमः तथा अश्वमेध-अनुज्ञा | Reunion at the Kuru Court and Authorization of the Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

संदिदेशाथ विदुर: पाण्डुपुत्रप्रियेप्सया । राजमार्गाश्च तत्रासन्‌ सुमनोभिरलंकृता:

Transliteration

saṃdideśātha viduraḥ pāṇḍuputrapriyepsayā | rājamārgāś ca tatrāsan sumanobhir alaṅkṛtāḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：随后，毗度罗为求赢得般度诸子的欢心，颁下诸般指令。城中王道大道皆以芬芳之花装饰——这是敬意与善意的外在标志，使都城预备以吉祥的迎接与虔敬的仪式，礼敬般度五子。

Word by Word

• संदिदेश: ordered, commanded
• Type: Verb
• Root: संदिश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथम, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• विदुरः: Vidura
• विदुरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पाण्डुपुत्रप्रियैप्सया: with the desire to please the sons of Pandu
• पाण्डुपुत्रप्रियैप्सया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रियैप्सा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• राजमार्गाः: royal roads, main roads
• राजमार्गाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजमार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• आसन्: were
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/इम्परफेक्ट), प्रथम, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• सुमनोभिः: with flowers
• सुमनोभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अलंकृताः: adorned, decorated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलंकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Vidura
• Pāṇḍavas (sons of Pāṇḍu)
• royal roads/highways
• flowers

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Public acts of honor—cleanliness, decoration, and worship—are presented as ethical governance: a ruler’s city should embody auspiciousness and respect, and wise ministers cultivate harmony by honoring the virtuous and strengthening communal devotion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura issues orders to prepare a ceremonial welcome for the Pāṇḍavas: the main roads are decorated with flowers (and, in the broader narrative context, devotional arrangements are made), signaling a citywide, auspicious reception.