Mahabharata · 2.1.16–17
॥
Devanāgarī
स कालं कं चिद् आश्वस्य विश्वकर्मा प्रचिन्त्य च ॥
सभां प्रचक्रमे कर्तुं पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् ॥
अभिप्रायेण पार्थानां कृष्णस्य च महात्मनः ॥
पुण्ये ऽहनि महातेजाः कृतकौतुकमङ्गलः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sa kālaṃ kaṃ cid āśvasya viśvakarmā pracintya ca ||
sabhāṃ pracakrame kartuṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām ||
abhiprāyeṇa pārthānāṃ kṛṣṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ ||
puṇye 'hani mahātejāḥ kṛtakautukamaṅgalaḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
सः कालम् कम् चित् आश्वस्यsaḥ kālam kam cit āśvasyaHe, having rested for some time,
विश्वकर्मा प्रचिन्त्य चviśvakarmā pracintya caVishvakarman, and having pondered,
सभाम् प्रचक्रमे कर्तुम्sabhām pracakrame kartumset about building the sabha
पाण्डवानाम् महात्मनाम्pāṇḍavānām mahātmanāmfor the great-souled Pandavas;
अभिप्रायेण पार्थानाम्abhiprāyeṇa pārthānāmby the intention of the Parthas
कृष्णस्य च महात्मनःkṛṣṇasya ca mahātmanaḥand of the great-souled Krishna,
पुण्ये अहनि महा-तेजाःpuṇye ahani mahā-tejāḥon an auspicious, most radiant day,
कृत-कौतुक-मङ्गलःkṛta-kautuka-maṅgalaḥhaving performed the kautuka-mangala rite [of blessing],
सsaoriginal form "sa", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
कालंkālaṃoriginal form "kālaṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
कंkaṃoriginal form "kaṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
चिद्cidoriginal form "cid", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
सभांsabhāṃoriginal form "sabhāṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
कर्तुंkartuṃoriginal form "kartuṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
पाण्डवानांpāṇḍavānāṃoriginal form "pāṇḍavānāṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
पार्थानांpārthānāṃoriginal form "pārthānāṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
ऽहनि'hanioriginal form "'hani", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
महातेजाःmahātejāḥoriginal form "mahātejāḥ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
कृतकौतुकमङ्गलःkṛtakautukamaṅgalaḥoriginal form "kṛtakautukamaṅgalaḥ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
Vaishampayana said: "He, having rested for some time and having pondered -- Vishvakarman set about building the sabha for the great-souled Pandavas. By the intention of the Parthas and of the great-souled Krishna, on an auspicious, most radiant day, having performed the kautuka-mangala rite..."
Version
d5be67c53acd · published Jul 16, 2026, 2:43:40 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here a great work begins with reflection and consecration, not with haste. It is significant that the architect first rests and reflects, then chooses an auspicious day and performs the rite of blessing: every worthy undertaking is begun in its proper time and with remembrance of the sacred. Thus scripture shows that even skill ought to be preceded by consecration. Thus scripture shows a good beginning; and Maya honors the brahmins before laying the foundation.