Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 40

Indratīrtha–Ādityatīrtha: Balarāma’s Ritual Bathing, Dāna, and Sacred-Historical Recollections

Devanagari script

ततो<ब्रवीन्महादेव: पचस्वैतानि सुव्रते

Transliteration

tato 'bravīn mahādevaḥ pacasvaitāni suvrate |

Translation

Then Mahādeva said, “O virtuous one, cook these.” At his command, the illustrious Arundhatī—wishing to please the brāhmaṇa—placed the jujube fruits upon the kindled fire and began roasting them.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Aorist (luṅ), 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• पचस्व: cook (you)!
• Type: Verb
• Root: पच्
• Form: Imperative (loṭ), 2, singular, Ātmanepada

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: neuter, accusative, plural

• सुव्रते: O woman of good vows
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुव्रत
• Form: feminine, vocative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Mahādeva (Śiva)
• Arundhatī
• brāhmaṇa (guest)
• ber fruits (jujubes)
• fire (agni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is expressed through prompt, respectful service performed with a pure motive—here, Arundhatī’s readiness to fulfill a righteous request and honor a brāhmaṇa guest.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Mahādeva instructs the virtuous Arundhatī to cook certain fruits; she immediately begins roasting the jujubes on the fire, intending to please the brāhmaṇa.