Shloka 9

अक्षदेवन-प्रवर्तनम् | Commencement of the Dice Game

Devanagari script

चेकितान उपासड्ले धनु: काश्य उपाहरत्‌ । असिं च सुत्सरुं शल्य: शैक्यं काउ्चनभूषणम्‌

Transliteration

cekitāna upāsadle dhanuḥ kāśya upāharat | asiṃ ca sutsaruṃ śalyaḥ śaikyaṃ kāñcanabhūṣaṇam |

Translation

杜尤陀那说道：“契吉多那上前献上一张弓，迦尸国王也同样献上一张弓。至于沙利耶，则赐予一柄握柄精良的宝剑，并奉上一只置于盘上的金饰宝器。”在周遭叙事中，这些献礼乃公开的盟誓与尊荣之证，显示诸王在战云将起之前，如何以馈赠与仪式性的扶持彼此系结。

Word by Word

• चेकितानः: Cekitāna
• चेकितानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेकितान
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उपासदत्: approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस्
• Form: Imperfect, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• काश्यः: the king of Kāśī
• काश्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उपाहरत्: presented/offered
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-हृ
• Form: Imperfect, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• असिम्: sword
• असिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• सुत्सरुम्: Sutsaru (a weapon/implement; exact identification uncertain)
• सुत्सरुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत्सरु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शल्यः: Śalya
• शल्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शैक्यम्: made of/pertaining to Śaka/Śaikya (reading uncertain)
• शैक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• काञ्चनभूषणम्: golden ornament/adornment
• काञ्चनभूषणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्चन-भूषण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Duryodhana
• Cekitāna
• Kāśī (Kāśya, king of Kāśī)
• Śalya
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• sword (asi)
• gold-ornamented vessel (kāñcanabhūṣaṇam)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the political-ethical role of dāna (formal gifting): public offerings of weapons and regalia are not mere generosity but visible commitments of loyalty and honor, binding allies and escalating the momentum toward war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duryodhana enumerates the gifts presented by notable kings/warriors—bows from Cekitāna and the king of Kāśī, and a fine sword and gold-adorned vessel from Śalya—within a larger scene of ceremonial preparations and alliance-display.