Shloka 14

Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

पालनेन विशस्तुष्टा: कामैस्तुष्टा वरस्त्रिय: | अनुक्रोशैस्तथा शूद्रा दानशेषै: पृथग्जना:

Transliteration

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | pālanena viśiṣṭāḥ tuṣṭāḥ kāmais tuṣṭā varastriyaḥ | anukrośais tathā śūdrā dānaśeṣaiḥ pṛthagjanāḥ |

Translation

毗舍摩波耶那说：“以护佑与善政，使显贵之人得以满足；以遂其所愿，使高贵的妇人得以满足；以慈悲，使首陀罗得以满足；以布施之后所余之物——慈施分配后的剩余——使平民百姓得以满足。”

Word by Word

• पालनेन: by protection/guarding
• पालनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पालन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विशः: the Vaiśyas (people of the third varṇa)
• विशः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• तुष्टाः: satisfied/pleased
• तुष्टाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुष्ट
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• कामैः: by desires/pleasures (i.e., enjoyments)
• कामैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तुष्टाः: satisfied
• तुष्टाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुष्ट
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• वरस्त्रियः: excellent women
• वरस्त्रियः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर-स्त्री
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• अनुक्रोशैः: by compassion
• अनुक्रोशैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुक्रोश
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तथा: and likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• शूद्राः: Śūdras
• शूद्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• दानशेषैः: by the remnants/leftovers of gifts (things left after giving)
• दानशेषैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान-शेष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पृथक्: separately/individually
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक्

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• varastriyaḥ (noble women)
• śūdrāḥ (Śūdras)
• pṛthagjanāḥ (common people)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches a model of righteous governance: a ruler sustains social harmony by protecting people, ensuring legitimate needs are met, practicing compassion toward the vulnerable, and extending generosity so that even the ordinary populace benefits.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana is describing how different sections of society are being pleased and supported through appropriate means—protection, provision, compassion, and charitable distribution—framing the scene as an example of orderly, dharmic administration.