Shloka 39

अर्जुनागमनम्

Arjuna’s Arrival and Reunion on the Sacred Mountain

Devanagari script

शैलादश्युच्छुयवता चयाट्टालकशोभिना । द्वारतोरणनिर्व्यूहध्वजसंवाहशोभिना,उसके चारों ओर सोनेकी चहारदीवारी बनी थी। उसमें सब प्रकारके रत्न जड़े होनेसे उनकी प्रभा फैलती रहती थी। चहारदीवारीके सब ओर सुन्दर बगीचे थे। उस चहारदीवारीकी ऊँचाई पर्वतसे भी अधिक थी। बहुतसे भवनों और अट्टालिकाओंसे उसकी बड़ी शोभा हो रही थी। द्वार, तोरण (गोपुर), बुर्ज और ध्वजसमुदाय उसकी शोभा बढ़ा रहे थे

Transliteration

śailād asy ucchu-yavatā ca yāṭṭālaka-śobhinā | dvāra-toraṇa-nirvyūha-dhvaja-saṃvāha-śobhinā ||

Translation

毗舍ṃ帕耶那说：“它以高耸的城垣为饰，峻起如山；又因众多宫室与高塔而更显华美。其光彩更由城门、仪门拱阙、堡垒与成簇旌旗所增益——皆为秩序井然的富盛与王权安固之征。”

Word by Word

शैलात्than/from a mountain

अस्यof this/its

उच्छ्रयवताwith great height/elevation

चand

अट्टालक-शोभिनाmade splendid by towers/mansions

द्वार-तोरण-निर्व्यूह-ध्वज-संवाह-शोभिनाsplendid with gates, archways, bastions/defensive arrays, flags and their assemblage

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

śaila (mountain, as simile)

aṭṭālaka (towers)

dvāra (gates)

toraṇa (archways)

nirvyūha (bastions/outworks)

dhvaja (banners/standards)

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

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the ideal of well-ordered kingship: prosperity is shown not merely by wealth but by structured civic space—fortifications, gateways, and standards that symbolize protection, stability, and disciplined governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana is giving a vivid architectural description of a grand fortified enclosure or city: towering structures like mountains, many buildings and towers, and prominent gates, archways, bastions, and banners that heighten its magnificence.