Shloka 48

Vyāsa’s Inquiry into Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Tapas and the Identification of Vidura with Dharma

Devanagari script

अनुजज्ञे स कौरव्य: परिष्वज्याभिनन्द्य च | गान्धार्या चाभ्यनुज्ञाता: कृतपादाभिवादना:

Transliteration

anujajñe sa kauravyaḥ pariṣvajyābhinandya ca | gāndhāryā cābhyanujñātaḥ kṛtapādābhivādanāḥ ||

Translation

Then that Kaurava (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) granted permission—embracing and blessing them. And, having duly bowed at her feet, they were also granted leave by Gāndhārī. The moment underscores the ethic of respectful departure: even amid grief and renunciation, elders are honored, and consent is sought before separation.

Word by Word

• अनुजज्ञे: gave permission/assented
• अनुजज्ञे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-ज्ञा (धातु: ज्ञा)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कौरव्यः: the Kaurava (Dhritarashtra)
• कौरव्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परिष्वज्य: having embraced
• परिष्वज्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-स्वज्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active, prior action to main verb

• अभिनन्द्य: having greeted/congratulated
• अभिनन्द्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-नन्द्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active, prior action to main verb

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

• गान्धार्याः: from Gandhari
• गान्धार्याः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धारी
• Form: Feminine, Ablative, Singular

• च: also/and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अभ्यनुज्ञाताः: were permitted/received leave
• अभ्यनुज्ञाताः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-अनु-ज्ञा
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कृत: having done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पाद: feet
• पाद: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभिवादनाः: salutations/bowings
• अभिवादनाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिवादन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Gāndhārī
• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in times of sorrow and withdrawal from worldly life, dharma is upheld through honoring elders—seeking their consent, offering respectful salutations (especially at the feet), and parting with goodwill rather than resentment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra gives leave to depart, embracing and blessing; Gāndhārī also grants permission after the proper gesture of reverence—bowing at her feet—marking a formal, dharmic farewell.