Mahabharata 7.84.21 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 84, Shloka 21

अलम्बुस-वधः

The Neutralization of Alambusa

Devanagari script

पूर्णान्यक्षतपात्राणि रुचकं रोचनास्तथा । स्वलंकृता: शुभा: कन्या दधिसर्पिर्मधूदकम्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | pūrṇāny akṣata-pātrāṇi rucakaṃ rocanās tathā | su-alaṅkṛtāḥ śubhāḥ kanyā dadhi-sarpir-madhūdakam |

Translation

Sañjaya dijo: «Había recipientes llenos de granos intactos (akṣata), objetos auspiciosos como el rucaka y la gorocanā, y doncellas de buen augurio, bellamente engalanadas, que llevaban cuajada, ghee, miel y agua. Al ver estas señales favorables y tocar algunas como bendición, Yudhiṣṭhira, hijo de Kuntī, entró por la puerta exterior.»

Word by Word

• पूर्णानि: full, filled
• पूर्णानि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• अक्षत: of unbroken rice-grains
• अक्षत: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• पात्राणि: vessels, bowls
• पात्राणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• रुचकं: a pleasing/auspicious object (rucaka)
• रुचकं: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुचक
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• रोचना: gorocanā (yellow pigment)
• रोचना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोचना
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: and also, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• सु-अलंकृताः: well-adorned
• सु-अलंकृताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलंकृत
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• शुभाः: auspicious, fair
• शुभाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• कन्याः: maidens, girls
• कन्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• दधि: curd, yogurt
• दधि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सर्पिः: ghee
• सर्पिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मधु: honey
• मधु: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• उदकम्: water
• उदकम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Kuntīnandana)
• akṣata-pātra (vessels of unbroken grains)
• rucaka (auspicious article)
• rocanā/gorocanā (auspicious pigment)
• kanyāḥ (adorned maidens)
• dadhi (curd)
• sarpis (ghee)
• madhu (honey)
• udaka (water)
• outer gateway/threshold (bāhya-dvāra/antarāla implied by context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid the violence and uncertainty of war, the epic highlights dharmic conduct through auspicious, orderly welcome-rites. The scene underscores reverence for tradition, purity, and the ethical ideal that a righteous king proceeds with humility—seeking blessings and good omens rather than arrogance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes a ceremonial reception: vessels filled with akṣata and other auspicious substances, along with adorned maidens carrying curd, ghee, honey, and water. Yudhiṣṭhira observes these favorable signs, touches some as a blessing, and then enters the outer gateway.