Shloka 8

Subhadrā-vilāpaḥ — Subhadrā’s Lament for Abhimanyu

Droṇa-parva 55

Devanagari script

तयाभिवादित: कन्यामभ्यनन्दद्‌ यथाविधि । तत्सलिज्ञाभिराशीर्भिरिष्टाभिरभित: स्थिताम्‌,आकर उसने राजाको प्रणाम किया। राजाने उसके अनुरूप अभीष्ट आशीर्वाद देकर अपने पार्श्रभागमें खड़ी हुई उस कन्याका विधिपूर्वक अभिनन्दन किया

Transliteration

tayābhivāditaḥ kanyām abhyānandad yathāvidhi | tat-salijñābhir āśīrbhir iṣṭābhir abhitaḥ sthitām ||

Translation

Having been respectfully saluted by her, the king duly welcomed the maiden according to proper custom. He bestowed upon her the desired blessings with fitting words, as she stood close by his side.

Word by Word

तयाby her

अभिवादितःhaving been saluted / greeted

कन्याम्the maiden

अभ्यनन्दत्he welcomed / congratulated

यथाas, according to

विधिrule, prescribed manner

तत्that (her/that one)

सलिलज्ञाभिःby (women) skilled in water/ablutions (i.e., ritual attendants)

आशीर्भिःwith blessings

इष्टाभिःdesired, auspicious

अभितःaround, on all sides

स्थिताम्standing, situated

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyasa (speaker)

a king (unnamed in this verse)

a maiden (kanyā, unnamed in this verse)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic etiquette: a ruler should respond to respectful greeting with proper, rule-based welcome and benevolent blessings, maintaining dignity and moral order through correct conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

A maiden offers respectful salutations to a king; the king, following prescribed custom, formally welcomes her and grants her wished-for blessings as she stands near him.