Shloka 21

Gaṅgādvāra-tīrtha, Ulūpī-saṃvāda, and Arjuna’s Dharma-Deliberation (गङ्गाद्वार-तीर्थम्, उलूपी-संवादः)

Devanagari script

ततस्ते धृतराष्ट्रस्य भीष्मस्य च महात्मन: । अन्येषां च तदर्हाणां चक्कर: पादाभिवन्दनम्‌,इतनेमें ही पाण्डवोंने धृतराष्ट्र, महात्मा भीष्म तथा अन्य वन्दनीय पुरुषोंके पास जाकर उन सबके चरणोंमें प्रणाम किया

Transliteration

tatas te dhṛtarāṣṭrasya bhīṣmasya ca mahātmanaḥ | anyeṣāṃ ca tad-arhāṇāṃ cakruḥ pādābhivandanam ||

Translation

Daraufhin traten die Pāṇḍavas zu Dhṛtarāṣṭra, zum großherzigen Bhīṣma und zu den anderen ehrwürdigen Ältesten und erwiesen ihnen Ehrerbietung, indem sie sich zu ihren Füßen verneigten.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

तेthey (those)

धृतराष्ट्रस्यof Dhṛtarāṣṭra

भीष्मस्यof Bhīṣma

चand

महात्मनःof the great-souled (one)

अन्येषाम्of others

चand

तदर्हाणाम्of those worthy of that (honour)

चand

चक्रुःthey did/made

पादाभिवन्दनम्salutation at the feet (foot-salutation)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Bhīṣma

Pāṇḍavas

other venerable elders (tad-arhāḥ)

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 highlights dharma expressed as reverence toward elders and rightful authorities. Even when relationships are strained, proper conduct—humility and respectful salutation—maintains social and moral order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the Pāṇḍavas go to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Bhīṣma, and other respected seniors and formally bow at their feet, offering traditional obeisance.