Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 263

Adhyāya 6: Kaṅka (Yudhiṣṭhira) Seeks Refuge in Virāṭa’s Assembly

Devanagari script

उपगम्य तु राजानमिदं वचनमत्रवीत्‌ । “शरणागतोंकी रक्षा करनेवाली भक्तवत्सले दुर्गे! मुझे शरण दो।” इस प्रकार स्तुति करनेपर देवी दुर्गाने पाण्डुनन्दन युधिष्छिरको प्रत्यक्ष दर्शन दिया तथा राजाके पास आकर यह बात कही

Transliteration

upagamya tu rājānam idaṃ vacanam atravīt | “śaraṇāgatānāṃ rakṣā-karaṇī bhakta-vatsale durge! māṃ śaraṇaṃ dehi” | iti stutvā devī durgā pāṇḍu-nandanaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram pratyakṣaṃ darśanaṃ dadau, tataḥ rājānam upagamya idaṃ vacanam uvāca |

Translation

他走近国王，说道：“噢，杜尔迦（Durgā）！你怜爱信徒，护佑来投之人——请赐我庇护。”他如此赞颂时，女神杜尔迦便在般度之子坚战面前显现；随后她走到国王近前，开口传达她的旨意。

Word by Word

• उपगम्य: having approached
• उपगम्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-गम्
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वान्त/absolutive), कर्तरि

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• अवीत्: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, 3rd, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Durgā
• Pāṇḍu
• the king (rājā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the dharmic ideal of protecting those who seek refuge (śaraṇāgata-rakṣā) and presents devotion (stuti, śaraṇa) as a morally charged act that invites divine safeguarding in times of peril.

What is happening in the narrative?

A supplication is made to Durgā—asking for refuge and protection. Pleased by the praise, Durgā manifests before Yudhiṣṭhira and then approaches the king to speak, indicating divine intervention and guidance within the unfolding events of the Virāṭa episode.