Shloka 19

युद्धसंग्रहः

Kurukṣetra Campaign in Summary

Devanagari script

स तानभ्यर्च्य मेधावी पृष्टवा च कुशलं तदा । अभ्यवादयत प्रीत:ः पितरं मातरं तदा,मेधावी श्रीकृष्णने उन सबका आदर करके उनका कुशल-समाचार पूछा और प्रसन्नतापूर्वक अपने माता-पिताके चरणोंमें प्रणाम किया

Transliteration

sa tān abhyarcya medhāvī pṛṣṭvā ca kuśalaṃ tadā | abhyavādayat prītaḥ pitaraṃ mātaraṃ tadā ||

Translation

Then the wise one, having respectfully honored them, inquired after their welfare. Pleased at heart, he bowed in reverence to his father and mother—an act that underscores the ethical ideal of gratitude, humility, and filial duty even amid royal and martial affairs.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अभ्यर्च्य: having honored/worshipped
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral in gerund)

• मेधावी: the intelligent one
• मेधावी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेधाविन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पृष्ट्वा: having asked
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पृच्छ्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral in gerund)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कुशलम्: welfare, well-being
• कुशलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• अभ्यवादयत्: he saluted, paid respects
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + वद्
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), Past, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रीतः: pleased, delighted
• प्रीतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत
• Form: क्त (past participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मातरम्: mother
• मातरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वैशम्पायन (Vaiśampāyana)
• पितर (father)
• मातर (mother)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic conduct through courteous inquiry and reverence: honoring elders, asking after their welfare, and bowing to one’s parents. It presents humility and gratitude as enduring ethical duties, not diminished by status, power, or public responsibilities.

What is happening in the narrative?

The subject of the passage respectfully honors those present, asks about their well-being, and then, with a pleased heart, offers salutations to his father and mother—marking a moment of proper social and familial etiquette within the larger events of the Aśvamedhika narrative.