Shloka 16

मायासभायां दुर्योधनस्य अवमान-प्रसङ्गः

Duryodhana’s Humiliation in the Hall of Māyā

Devanagari script

अभिवाद्य यथान्यायं यथाश्रेष्ठ नृपं च ताम्‌ कुशलानामयं पृष्टवा निषण्णौ रामकेशवौ

Transliteration

abhivādya yathānyāyaṁ yathāśreṣṭha nṛpaṁ ca tām | kuśalānāmayaṁ pṛṣṭvā niṣaṇṇau rāmakeśavau ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: Having offered salutations in the proper manner—according to each person’s rank—Rāma (Balarāma) and Keśava (Kṛṣṇa) respectfully greeted the king and that lady, inquired after their welfare and freedom from illness, and then the two brothers took their seats upon an excellent seat.

Word by Word

• अभिवाद्य: having saluted
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√वद्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• यथा-न्यायम्: according to propriety/rule
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न्याय

• यथा-श्रेष्ठम्: according to seniority/excellence
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रेष्ठ

• नृपम्: the king
• नृपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कुशल-अनामयम्: welfare and freedom from illness
• कुशल-अनामयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशल + अनामय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पृष्ट्वा: having asked/inquired
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्रच्छ्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• निषण्णौ: seated
• निषण्णौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√सद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual, क्त (past passive participle, used adjectivally)

• राम-केशवौ: Rama (Balarama) and Keshava (Krishna)
• राम-केशवौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + केशव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Balarāma (Rāma)
• Kṛṣṇa (Keśava)
• King Dama-ghoṣa
• Śrutāśravā

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma in social conduct: one should honor people appropriately according to seniority and status, begin interactions with respectful salutations, and show genuine concern for others’ welfare and health before proceeding to business.

What is happening in the narrative?

Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa arrive in an assembly, offer formal salutations in correct hierarchical order, inquire about the well-being and health of the king and a respected lady (identified in the Gītā Press context as Dama-ghoṣa and Śrutāśravā), and then take their seats on a fine seat.