Mahabharata 7.79.22 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 79, Shloka 22

Jayadratha-rakṣā: Conch Signals and Encirclement of Arjuna

Chapter 79

Devanagari script

कृतज्ञानां वदान्यानां गुरुशुश्रूषिणामपि । सहस्रदक्षिणानां च या गतिस्तामवाप्रुहि

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | kṛtajñānāṁ vadānyānāṁ guruśuśrūṣiṇām api | sahasradakṣiṇānāṁ ca yā gatis tām avāpruhi ||

Translation

সঞ্জয় বললেন—যাঁরা কৃতজ্ঞ, উদার, গুরুশুশ্রূষায় নিবেদিত, এবং যজ্ঞে সহস্র সহস্র দক্ষিণা প্রদান করেন—তাঁরা কোন গতি, কোন পরিণতি লাভ করেন? তা আমাকে বলো।

Word by Word

• कृतज्ञानाम्: of the grateful
• कृतज्ञानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वदान्यानाम्: of the generous
• वदान्यानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वदान्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• गुरुशुश्रूषिणाम्: of those who serve the teacher
• गुरुशुश्रूषिणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरुशुश्रूषिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• सहस्रदक्षिणानाम्: of those (sacrifices/acts) with a thousand fees (dakṣiṇās)
• सहस्रदक्षिणानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्रदक्षिण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• या: which (that)
• या: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• गतिः: goal/destination
• गतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• ताम्: that (her/it)
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अवाप्नुहि: attain (you)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवाप्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• guru (teacher)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights classical dharmic virtues—gratitude, generosity, devoted service to one’s teacher, and large-scale charitable giving (dakṣiṇā)—and frames them as causes of a higher ‘gati’ (destiny). It implies that ethical character and reverence for learning/teachers are spiritually consequential, not merely social virtues.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya, in the course of reporting and reflecting within the Drona Parva, poses an inquiry about the ultimate destination attained by people distinguished by gratitude, liberality, faithful service to gurus, and lavish ritual/charitable gifts. The line functions as a prompt for a response about the fruits of such conduct.