Shloka 32

अलम्बुस-वधः

The Neutralization of Alambusa

Devanagari script

कुण्डली बद्धनिस्त्रिंश: संनद्धकवचो युवा । अभिप्रणम्य शिरसा द्वा:स्थो धर्मात्मजाय वै

Transliteration

kuṇḍalī baddha-nistriṁśaḥ sannaddha-kavaco yuvā | abhipraṇamya śirasā dvāḥstho dharmātmajāya vai ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: A young doorkeeper, wearing earrings, with his sword fastened on, and clad in armor, bowed his head in reverence before Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira).

Word by Word

• कुण्डली: wearing earrings
• कुण्डली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुण्डलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बद्धनिस्त्रिंशः: having a sword fastened (at the side)
• बद्धनिस्त्रिंशः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध-निस्त्रिंश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संनद्धकवचः: wearing/fastened in armor
• संनद्धकवचः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संनद्ध-कवच
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युवा: a young man
• युवा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभिप्रणम्य: having bowed down / after saluting
• अभिप्रणम्य: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-प्र-नम्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for absolutive)

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• द्वाःस्थः: a doorkeeper / one stationed at the door
• द्वाःस्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार्-स्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मात्मजाय: to the son of Dharma (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• धर्मात्मजाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-आत्मज
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• वै: indeed / surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dharmātmaja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• dvāḥstha (doorkeeper)
• nistriṁśa (sword)
• kavaca (armor)
• kuṇḍala (earrings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a martial setting, ethical order is maintained through self-control and proper respect: the armed, armored youth still bows humbly to Dharmarāja, signaling that power and weapons should remain subordinate to dharma and rightful authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a young gate-attendant, fully equipped with sword and armor, approaching and bowing his head before Yudhiṣṭhira (the son of Dharma), indicating a formal audience or message delivered with due protocol.