Shloka 19

Draupadī’s Rebuke of Jayadratha and Dhaumya’s Admonition (Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 252)

Devanagari script

संस्पृश्याप: शुचिर्भूत्वा भूतले समुपस्थित:

Transliteration

saṁspṛśyāpaḥ śucir bhūtvā bhūtale samupasthitaḥ

Translation

Nachdem er das Wasser berührt und dadurch rituelle Reinheit erlangt hatte, stand er sodann auf dem Erdboden—ein Zeichen der bewussten Rückkehr zu strenger Zucht und der Bereitschaft für die nächste Handlung im sich entfaltenden Epos.

Word by Word

• संस्पृश्य: having touched
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+स्पृश्
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे अव्ययभावः), कर्तरि, having touched

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भूत्वा: having become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: क्त्वा, कर्तरि, having become

• भूतले: on the ground
• भूतले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• समुपस्थितः: stood/was present (approached and stood)
• समुपस्थितः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उप+स्था
• Form: क्त (past passive participle, used adjectivally), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• āpaḥ (water)
• bhūtala (ground/earth)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic importance of inner and outer readiness: ritual purification by water marks a conscious shift into disciplined, respectful action, especially before significant speech or deeds.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a character performing a customary act of purification (touching water) and then taking a poised stance on the ground, indicating preparation to proceed with the next event or interaction.