Shloka 22

Adhyāya 73: Damayantī’s Investigation of Bāhuka

Keśinī’s Observations

Devanagari script

कि कार्य स्वागत ते<स्तु राज्ञा पृष्ट: स भारत,भरतनन्दन युधिष्ठिर! विदर्भराजने स्वागत-पूर्वक ऋतुपर्णसे पूछा--“आपके यहाँ पधारनेका क्‍या कारण है?”

Transliteration

kiṁ kāryaṁ svāgataṁ te 'stu rājñā pṛṣṭaḥ sa bhārata bharatanandana yudhiṣṭhira | vidarbharājena svāgata-pūrvakam ṛtupārṇase pṛcchā—“bhavataḥ iha pādārpaṇe kāraṇaṁ kim?”

Translation

Then the king, after offering due welcome, asked him his purpose. O Bhārata, O Yudhiṣṭhira, delight of the Bharatas—thus the king of Vidarbha courteously questioned Ṛtuparṇa: “What is the reason for your coming here?”

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• कार्यम्: purpose; business; reason
• कार्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• स्वागतम्: welcome
• स्वागतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वागत
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, dative, singular

• अस्तु: let it be; may there be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: imperative (vidhi-lin), 3rd, singular

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• पृष्टः: asked; questioned
• Type: Verb
• Root: पृच्छ्
• Form: past passive participle (kta), masculine, nominative, singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• भरतनन्दन: O descendant/delighter of Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरतनन्दन
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• युधिष्ठिर: O Yudhiṣṭhira
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

Speaker

बृहदश्चव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhadaśva
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Ṛtupārṇa
• Vidarbha (Vidarbharāja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic conduct in kingship: a ruler should first honor a guest with proper welcome and only then inquire into the visitor’s purpose, doing so respectfully and without suspicion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Within Bṛhadaśva’s narration to Yudhiṣṭhira, the king of Vidarbha receives Ṛtupārṇa courteously and asks why he has come—setting up the next developments in the Nala episode.