Shloka 21

Devanagari script

एवं विनिश्चित्य ततः कुन्तीपुत्रो धनंजय: । अनुप्रविश्य राजानमापृच्छय च विशाम्पते

Transliteration

evaṁ viniścitya tataḥ kuntīputro dhanaṁjayaḥ | anupraviśya rājānam āpṛcchya ca viśāmpate ||

Translation

Having thus reached a firm decision, Dhanañjaya—Kuntī’s son—then entered the king’s presence and, O lord of the people, respectfully took leave of him.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• विनिश्चित्य: having decided/determined
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√चि (चिनोति)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active (parasmaipada sense)

• ततः: then/from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• कुन्तीपुत्रः: Kunti's son
• कुन्तीपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुन्तीपुत्र
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• धनंजयः: Dhananjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अनुप्रविश्य: having entered
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-प्र-√विश् (विशति)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active (parasmaipada sense)

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• आपृच्छ्य: having asked/taken leave
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√पृच्छ् (पृच्छति)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active (parasmaipada sense)

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

• विशाम्पते: O lord of the people
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाम्पति
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna (Dhanañjaya, Kuntīputra)
• Kuntī
• the King (rājā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic conduct in action: one should decide after due consideration (viniścitya) and then proceed with propriety—approaching authority openly and taking leave respectfully (āpṛcchya), rather than acting impulsively or covertly.

What is happening in the narrative?

After arriving at a settled conclusion, Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), identified as Kuntī’s son, goes into the king’s presence and formally requests permission—signaling a transition to the next step in the episode while maintaining courtly decorum.