Shloka 53

उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय ९३: कृष्णस्य धृतराष्ट्रोपदेशः

Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Dhṛtarāṣṭra in the Assembly

Devanagari script

व्यभ्राजत सभाम ध्ये हेम्नीवोपहितो मणि:

Transliteration

vyabhrājata sabhā madhye hemnīvopahito maṇiḥ

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：在议事大殿的中央，它光华夺目——如金中镶嵌的宝珠——在群集的长老与诸王之间，以庄严的辉煌卓然显现。此象征表明：真正的崇高最易在公庭之上显露，在那里，荣誉、正统与劝谏的道德分量都要当众受检验。

Word by Word

• व्यभ्राजत: shone forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्राज्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सभामध्ये: in the assembly-hall (in the midst of the सभा)
• सभामध्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सभा + मध्य
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• हेमनि: in gold
• हेमनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेमन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• इव: like/as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• उपहितः: set/placed (inlaid)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-धा (उपहित)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• मणिः: a jewel
• मणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• sabhā (assembly hall)
• maṇi (jewel)
• hemnī (gold)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses a simile—“a jewel set in gold”—to suggest that genuine excellence and rightful stature become especially evident in the public sphere (the sabhā), where reputation, authority, and dharmic standing are scrutinized.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes someone or something in the assembly hall as radiantly prominent, visually and socially distinguished, like a precious gem mounted in gold, emphasizing the grandeur and charged significance of the court setting.