Shloka 38

Vidura Leaves Hastināpura and Meets Uddhava

Vidura’s Tīrtha-yātrā Begins

Devanagari script

कच्चिद्यशोधा रथयूथपानां गाण्डीवधन्वोपरतारिरास्ते । अलक्षितो यच्छरकूटगूढो मायाकिरातो गिरिशस्तुतोष ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

kaccid yaśodhā ratha-yūthapānāṁ gāṇḍīva-dhanvoparatārir āste alakṣito yac-chara-kūṭa-gūḍho māyā-kirāto giriśas tutoṣa

Translation

Please tell me: is Arjuna—bearer of the bow named Gāṇḍīva, renowned among chariot-warriors for subduing his foes—doing well? Once he satisfied Girīśa (Lord Śiva) by veiling Him in a shower of arrows when the Lord appeared, unrecognized, as an illusory Kirāta hunter.

Synonyms

• kaccit: is it so?
• kaccit: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kaccit (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक-निपात (‘is it the case that…?’)

• yaśodhā: Yaśodhā (fame/glory)
• yaśodhā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśodā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• ratha-yūthapānām: of the chariot-commanders
• ratha-yūthapānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + yūthapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘leaders of chariots/warriors’)

• gāṇḍīva-dhanva-uparata-ariḥ: Arjuna (the Gāṇḍīva-bow wielder, whose foes are subdued)
• gāṇḍīva-dhanva-uparata-ariḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāṇḍīva (प्रातिपदिक) + dhanvan (प्रातिपदिक) + uparata (उप-रम् धातु; क्त, कृदन्त) + ari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (‘he whose enemy has ceased because of the Gāṇḍīva-bow’ = Arjuna)

• āste: is/abides
• āste: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ās (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• alakṣitaḥ: unnoticed
• alakṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + lakṣita (लक्ष् धातु; क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; नकारार्थ-उपपद (unnoticed)

• yat: which/that
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-सर्वनाम (relative ‘which/that’)

• śara-kūṭa-gūḍhaḥ: hidden in a pile of arrows
• śara-kūṭa-gūḍhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + kūṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + gūḍha (गुह्/गूढ; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘hidden in a heap of arrows’)

• māyā-kirātaḥ: the illusory hunter
• māyā-kirātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + kirāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘illusory hunter’)

• giriśaḥ: Śiva (Lord of the mountain)
• giriśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giriśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• tutoṣa: was pleased
• tutoṣa: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tuṣ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Purport

Lord Śiva tested Arjuna’s strength by picking a quarrel with him over a hunted boar. He confronted Arjuna in the false dress of a hunter, and Arjuna covered him with arrows until Lord Śiva was satisfied with Arjuna’s fighting. He offered Arjuna the Pāśupati weapon and blessed him. Here Vidura inquired about the great warrior’s well-being.

Characters & Entities

• Yaśodā
• Kṛṣṇa
• Arjuna
• Śiva (Giriśa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Mother Yaśodā’s love for Kṛṣṇa?

This verse highlights Yaśodā’s intimate, parental devotion (vātsalya-bhakti): she could treat the Supreme Lord like her child and even bind Him, showing how bhakti overpowers awe and reverence.

Why did Vidura ask Uddhava about Yaśodā in Canto 3 Chapter 1?

Vidura was eager to hear about Kṛṣṇa’s associates after Kṛṣṇa’s departure from the world; he asks about Yaśodā to remember and honor the devotees whose love for Kṛṣṇa is central to Bhagavatam’s message.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Cultivate sincere, personal devotion—serve God with love and simplicity rather than mere formality—by remembering Kṛṣṇa daily, serving His devotees, and nurturing a heartfelt relationship through prayer and kīrtana.