Shloka 36

Vidura’s Return; Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Departure; Nārada’s Instruction on Kāla and Detachment

Devanagari script

विमृज्याश्रूणि पाणिभ्यां विष्टभ्यात्मानमात्मना । अजातशत्रुं प्रत्यूचे प्रभो: पादावनुस्मरन् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

vimṛjyāśrūṇi pāṇibhyāṁ viṣṭabhyātmānam ātmanā ajāta-śatruṁ pratyūce prabhoḥ pādāv anusmaran

Translation

He wiped away his tears with his hands and, by intelligence, gradually steadied his mind. Remembering the feet of his master Dhṛtarāṣṭra, he began to reply to Ajātaśatru, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira.

Synonyms

• विमृज्य: having wiped
• विमृज्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√मृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having wiped’

• अश्रूणि: tears
• अश्रूणि: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्म

• पाणिभ्याम्: with (his) two hands
• पाणिभ्याम्: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; करण

• विष्टभ्य: having steadied
• विष्टभ्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√स्तभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having steadied/supported’

• आत्मानम्: himself
• आत्मानम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• आत्मना: by himself
• आत्मना: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (by oneself)

• अजात-शत्रुम्: Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• अजात-शत्रुम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजात + शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (अजातः शत्रुः यस्य सः) = ‘one whose enemy is not born’; कर्म (addressing Yudhiṣṭhira)

• प्रत्यूचे: replied
• प्रत्यूचे: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘answered’

• प्रभोः: of the lord
• प्रभोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of the lord/master)

• पादौ: (his) two feet
• पादौ: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; कर्म (remembering the two feet)

• अनुस्मरन्: remembering
• अनुस्मरन्: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√स्मृ (धातु) → स्मरन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण (while remembering)

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Ajātaśatru)
• The Lord (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about remembering Krishna during sorrow?

This verse shows that even in intense grief one can regain steadiness by repeatedly remembering the Lord’s lotus feet.

Why did Vidura speak to Ajatashatru (Yudhisthira) after composing himself?

Yudhiṣṭhira was overwhelmed by separation and responsibility; Vidura first controlled his own emotion and then spoke from a place of spiritual remembrance to guide him properly.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

When emotions surge, pause, compose the mind, and anchor yourself in prayer or remembrance of God—then respond and act with clarity rather than impulse.