Shloka 23

कुन्ती–व्याससंवादः

Kuntī–Vyāsa Dialogue on Durvāsā’s Boon and Karṇa’s Birth

Devanagari script

माल्यैर्गन्धैश्व विविधैरर्चयित्वा यथाविधि । कुल्यानि तेषां संयोज्य तदाचख्युर्महीपते:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

mālyair gandhaiś ca vividhair arcayitvā yathāvidhi |

kulyāni teṣāṃ saṃyojya tadācakhyur mahīpateḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Having duly honored them according to prescribed rites with many kinds of garlands and fragrant unguents, they gathered and arranged their remains, and then reported the matter to the king. The passage underscores the ethical duty of survivors to complete funerary obligations with reverence—transforming the aftermath of conflict into an act of dharma through proper rites, remembrance, and truthful communication to the ruler.

Word by Word

• माल्यैः: with garlands
• माल्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• गन्धैः: with fragrances
• गन्धैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

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

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अर्चयित्वा: having worshipped
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• यथा: as / according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• विधि: rule; prescribed procedure
• विधि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कुल्यानि: channels; trenches (for water/rites)
• कुल्यानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• संयोज्य: having joined/connected
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + युज्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• आचख्युः: they reported/told
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चक्ष्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• महीपतेः: to/of the king (lord of the earth)
• महीपतेः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• mahīpati (the king)
• mālya (garlands)
• gandha (fragrant substances)
• kulyāni (remains/bones)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma in the form of proper funerary responsibility: honoring the departed with prescribed rites (yathāvidhi), treating their remains with reverence, and acting with accountability by reporting truthfully to the king.

What is happening in the narrative?

Messengers/attendants perform ritual honor with garlands and fragrances, collect and arrange the remains (kulyāni), and then convey the completed actions and news to the king.