Shloka 19

Draupadī’s Rebuke of Jayadratha and Dhaumya’s Admonition (Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 252)

Devanagari script

संस्पृश्याप: शुचिर्भूत्वा भूतले समुपस्थित:

Transliteration

saṁspṛśyāpaḥ śucir bhūtvā bhūtale samupasthitaḥ

Translation

Après avoir touché l’eau et s’être ainsi purifié selon le rite, il se tint alors sur le sol—signe d’un retour délibéré à la discipline et d’une préparation au prochain acte du récit épique qui se déploie.

Word by Word

• संस्पृश्य: having touched
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+स्पृश्
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे अव्ययभावः), कर्तरि, having touched

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भूत्वा: having become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: क्त्वा, कर्तरि, having become

• भूतले: on the ground
• भूतले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• समुपस्थितः: stood/was present (approached and stood)
• समुपस्थितः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उप+स्था
• Form: क्त (past passive participle, used adjectivally), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• āpaḥ (water)
• bhūtala (ground/earth)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic importance of inner and outer readiness: ritual purification by water marks a conscious shift into disciplined, respectful action, especially before significant speech or deeds.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a character performing a customary act of purification (touching water) and then taking a poised stance on the ground, indicating preparation to proceed with the next event or interaction.