Shloka 13

Śiśupāla-nigraha-prastāva: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Conciliation and Bhīṣma’s Defense of Kṛṣṇa

Book 2, Chapter 35

Devanagari script

भवनै: सविमानाग्रै: सोदर्कर्बलसंवृतैः

Transliteration

bhavanaiḥ savimānāgraiḥ sodarkarbalasaṃvṛtaiḥ

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：“（那城邑/王家区域）楼阁巨宅林立，上层高室巍然耸起；又以坚固的防御工事环护——城垣、壁垒与堡障——显出富庶之盛与治政之警醒。”

Word by Word

• भवनैः: with houses; by means of buildings
• भवनैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सविमानाग्रैः: with lofty/upper parts having vimānas (towers/pavilions)
• सविमानाग्रैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-विमान-अग्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सोदर्कर्बलसंवृतैः: surrounded/covered with strong (protective) forces and with udarka (additional/auxiliary) strength
• सोदर्कर्बलसंवृतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-उदर्क-बल-संवृत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• bhavana (mansions/palaces)
• vimāna-agra (lofty upper chambers/towers)
• udarka (ramparts/defensive works)
• bala (strength/forces)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse implicitly links prosperity with responsibility: grand residences and visible splendor are paired with strong protection and orderly defense, reflecting the ethical expectation that rulers safeguard wealth, people, and public order rather than merely display opulence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana is describing an impressive, well-defended royal or urban setting—marked by palatial buildings with lofty upper structures and surrounded by robust fortifications—setting the scene for events in the Sabha Parva’s courtly and political developments.