Shloka 11

Devanagari script

दृषद्वती महापुण्या यत्र ख्याता युधिष्ठिर । न्यग्रोधाख्यस्तु पुण्याख्य: पाज्चाल्यो द्विपदां वर

Transliteration

Dṛṣadvatī mahāpuṇyā yatra khyātā Yudhiṣṭhira | nyagrodhākhyas tu puṇyākhyaḥ Pāñcālyo dvipadāṃ vara ||

Translation

陀摩耶说道：“噢，尤提施提罗啊，德利沙德瓦蒂河极其神圣，名闻遐迩。彼处亦有一株圣洁的榕树，以其清净而著称；又有一位般遮罗人，为人中之最。”

Word by Word

दृषद्वतीthe (river) Dṛṣadvatī

महापुण्याvery holy

यत्रwhere

ख्याताrenowned/celebrated

युधिष्ठिरO Yudhiṣṭhira

न्यग्रोधाख्यः(a place) called Nyagrodha

तुindeed/but

पुण्याख्यःcalled ‘Punya’/having a holy name

पाञ्चाल्यःthe Pāñcāla (man)/Pāñcālya

द्विपदाम्of bipeds/among men

वरःthe best

Speaker

धौम्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

ध

धौम्य (Dhaumya)

य

युधिष्ठिर (Yudhiṣṭhira)

द

दृषद्वती (Dṛṣadvatī)

न

न्यग्रोध (Nyagrodha, banyan tree)

प

पाञ्चाल (Pāñcāla)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes the ethical and spiritual value of sacred places and holy landmarks: remembrance and visitation of renowned tīrthas (like the Dṛṣadvatī) and venerable symbols (like the nyagrodha) are presented as supports for cultivating puṇya and steadiness in dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhaumya, acting as guide and priest, points out to Yudhiṣṭhira a celebrated sacred region associated with the Dṛṣadvatī river, mentioning a famed holy banyan and a notable person from Pāñcāla, situating the Pāṇḍavas’ journey within a map of revered sites and figures.