Shloka 30

अक्षविजय-प्रसङ्गः

Escalation of Wagers and Shakuni’s Repeated Declarations of Victory

Devanagari script

राज्ञा मूर्थन्युपाप्रातास्ते च कौरवनन्दना: । चत्वार: पाण्डवा राजन्‌ भीमसेनपुरोगमा:

Transliteration

rājñā mūrdhny upāprātās te ca kauravanandanāḥ | catvāraḥ pāṇḍavā rājan bhīmasenapurogamāḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：那些俱卢族的王子们，与由毗摩塞那率领的四位般度子一道，走近国王，俯首立于其前，以示恭敬。

Word by Word

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• मूर्धनि: on (the) head
• मूर्धनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• उपाप्राताः: approached / came near (having come up to)
• उपाप्राताः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-प्र-इ (प्राप्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• कौरव-नन्दनाः: sons/darlings of the Kauravas
• कौरव-नन्दनाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव + नन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पाण्डवाः: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भीमसेन-पुरोगमाः: with Bhimasena in front / led by Bhimasena
• भीमसेन-पुरोगमाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीमसेन + पुरोगम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• the king (rājā)
• Kauravas (Kuru descendants)
• Pāṇḍavas
• Bhīmasena

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights courtly discipline and outward humility before authority; in the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, such gestures can signify genuine respect or serve as formal decorum amid deepening rivalry, reminding readers to examine intention (bhāva) behind conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the royal assembly context, the Kauravas and the four Pāṇḍavas—led by Bhīma—come before the king, presenting themselves with lowered heads as they approach, setting the scene for consequential proceedings in the court.