Shloka 3

Devanagari script

कन्याश्रन्दनचूर्णैश्न लाजैममाल्यैश्व सर्वश: । अवाकिर|ज्छान्तनवं तत्र गत्वा सहस्रश:

Transliteration

kanyāś candanacūrṇaiś ca lājair mālyaiś ca sarvaśaḥ | avākiran śāntanavaṃ tatra gatvā sahasraśaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Then thousands of maidens went there and, from every side, showered Śāntanava Bhīṣma with auspicious offerings—sandalwood powder, parched grains (lājā), garlands, and flowers—an act of reverence.”

Word by Word

• कन्याः: maidens, girls
• कन्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• चन्दनचूर्णैः: with sandalwood-powders
• चन्दनचूर्णैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दनचूर्ण
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• लाजैः: with parched grains (lājā)
• लाजैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाजा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

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

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

• सर्वशः: in every way; all around
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः

• अवाकिरन्: they scattered, showered
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव √कॄ (किरति)
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• शान्तनवम्: the son of Śāntanu (Bhīṣma)
• शान्तनवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्तनव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• गत्वा: having gone
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage)

• सहस्रशः: by thousands; in thousands
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशः

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma (Śāntanava, Śāntanunandana)
• maidens (kanyāḥ)
• sandalwood powder (candana-cūrṇa)
• lājā (parched grains/khīl)
• garlands/flowers (mālya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the cultural-ethical practice of honoring a revered elder and exemplar (Bhīṣma) through auspicious offerings, suggesting that respect and ritual propriety can persist even in the morally fraught setting of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that thousands of maidens arrive and ceremonially shower Bhīṣma—Śāntanu’s son—with sandalwood powder, parched grains, garlands, and flowers, publicly venerating him.