Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 14
Devanagari script
भूत्वा हि नृपति: पूर्व समाज्ञाप्य च मेदिनीम् । कथमेकोड्द्य राजेन्द्र तिषछ्ठसे निर्जने वने
Transliteration
bhūtvā hi nṛpatiḥ pūrvaṃ samājñāpya ca medinīm | katham eko ’dya rājendra tiṣṭhase nirjane vane ||
Translation
三阇耶说道：“往昔，哦大王，你为人主，号令大地。如今，哦诸王之最胜，你怎会孤身一人，置身这荒寂之林？”
Word by Word
भूत्वाhaving been
भूत्वा:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
नृपतिःking
नृपतिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनृपति (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पूर्वम्formerly/before
पूर्वम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
समाज्ञाप्यhaving commanded/ordered
समाज्ञाप्य:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + आज्ञा (धातु)
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
मेदिनीम्the earth
मेदिनीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमेदिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
कथम्how?
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
एकःalone/single
एकः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootएक (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
इद्यhere/now (uncertain reading)
इद्य:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइद्य (पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट)
राजेन्द्रO lord of kings
राजेन्द्र:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootराजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
तिष्ठसेyou stand/remain
तिष्ठसे:
TypeVerb
Rootस्था (धातु)
FormPresent, लट्, Second, Singular, आत्मनेपद
निर्जनेin a deserted (place)
निर्जने:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootनिर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular
वनेin the forest
वने:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवन (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaR
rājendra (the king addressed, i.e., Dhṛtarāṣṭra)M
medinī (the earth)V
vana (forest)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the impermanence of worldly power: even one who once ruled the earth can be reduced to solitude and helplessness. It implicitly urges reflection on dharma and detachment, especially after the devastation of war.
Sañjaya addresses the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra), contrasting his former sovereignty over the earth with his present condition—alone in a deserted forest—highlighting the reversal brought about by the war’s outcome and its aftermath.