Shloka 17

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 113 — Maryādā-sthāpana (Śvetaketu’s Boundary) and the Niyoga Deliberation of Pāṇḍu and Kuntī

Devanagari script

सतां माद्रीमुपादाय भीष्म: सागरगासुतः । आजगाम पुरीं धीमान्‌ प्रविष्टो गजसाह्वयम्‌,परम बुद्धिमान्‌ गंगानन्दन भीष्म माद्रीको लेकर हस्तिनापुरमें आये

Transliteration

satāṃ mādrīm upādāya bhīṣmaḥ sāgaragāsutaḥ | ājagāma purīṃ dhīmān praviṣṭo gajasāhvayam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The wise Bhīṣma, son of the river Gaṅgā, having taken Mādrī with him, came to the city—entering Gajasāhvaya (Hastināpura). The verse underscores Bhīṣma’s dutiful guardianship and the orderly fulfillment of royal responsibility in bringing the queen into the Kuru capital.

Word by Word

• सताम्: of the good/virtuous (people)
• सताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• माद्रीम्: Mādrī
• माद्रीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: माद्री
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• उपादाय: having taken (along)
• उपादाय: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-दा
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• भीष्मः: Bhīṣma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सागरगासुतः: son of Sāgaragā (Gaṅgā)
• सागरगासुतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागरगा-सुत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आजगाम: came/arrived
• आजगाम: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पुरीम्: to the city
• पुरीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• धीमान्: wise, intelligent
• धीमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रविष्टः: having entered
• प्रविष्टः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश्
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गजसाह्वयम्: Gajasāhvaya (Hastināpura)
• गजसाह्वयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज-साह्वय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīṣma
• Gaṅgā
• Mādrī
• Gajasāhvaya (Hastināpura)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as responsible guardianship: Bhīṣma acts with prudence and propriety in escorting Mādrī to the Kuru capital, emphasizing orderly fulfillment of familial and royal obligations.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Bhīṣma, identified as Gaṅgā’s son, brings Mādrī and enters the Kuru city Gajasāhvaya (Hastināpura), marking her formal arrival into the royal household.