Shloka 18

अक्षदेवन-प्रवर्तनम् | Commencement of the Dice Game

Devanagari script

प्राणदन्त समाध्मातास्ततो रोमाणि मे5हषन्‌ । प्रापतन्‌ भूमिपालाश्न ये तु हीना: स्वतेजसा

Transliteration

prāṇadanta-samādhmātās tato romāṇi me 'harṣan | prāpatān bhūmipālāś ca ye tu hīnāḥ svatejasā ||

Translation

杜尤陀那说道：“随后，海螺号以全力吹响，我浑身汗毛倒竖。那些自身光辉与勇气不足的诸王，因恐惧而昏厥，倒伏在地。”

Word by Word

• प्राणदन्ताः: conch-shells (lit. ‘life-tooth’, i.e., śaṅkhas)
• प्राणदन्ताः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणदन्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• समाध्माताः: blown (together/fully)
• समाध्माताः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ध्मा
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, kta (past passive participle)

• ततः: then; thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• रोमाणि: hairs (of the body)
• रोमाणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोमन्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• मे: of me; my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• अहषन्: thrilled; stood on end (with joy/rapture)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृष्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3, Plural, Parasmaipada

• प्रापतन्: fell down
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3, Plural, Parasmaipada

• भूमिपालाः: kings; rulers of the earth
• भूमिपालाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमिपाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ये: who; those who
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तु: but; however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• हीनाः: devoid; lacking
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्वतेजसा: by (their) own splendor/energy
• स्वतेजसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वतेजस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Duryodhana
• conches (śaṅkha)
• kings (bhūmipāla)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts true tejas (inner radiance/valor) with mere status: those lacking courage and spiritual-ethical strength are overwhelmed by displays of power and auspicious authority, revealing how fear exposes inner weakness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana recounts a moment of intense ceremonial sound—conches blown loudly—so stirring that it makes his hair stand on end, while other kings, lacking confidence and valor, faint and fall in fear.