Shloka 17

अलम्बुस-वधः

The Neutralization of Alambusa

Devanagari script

अक्षतै: सुमनोभिश्व वाचयित्वा महाभुज: । तान्‌ द्विजान्‌ मधुसर्पिरभभ्या फलै: श्रेष्ठे: सुमज्लै:

Transliteration

akṣataiḥ sumanobhiś ca vācayitvā mahābhujaḥ | tān dvijān madhu-sarpirbhyāṃ phalaiḥ śreṣṭhaiḥ su-maṅgalaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: The mighty-armed one, having first honored the Brahmins with unbroken grains and fragrant flowers and having them recite auspicious benedictions, then worshipfully offered those twice-born guests the finest fruits—tokens of good fortune—together with honey and clarified butter. The scene underscores a dharmic ideal: even amid the pressures of war, one upholds reverence for sacred speech, hospitality, and the ethical duty to honor learned Brahmins before undertaking grave actions.

Word by Word

• अक्षतैः: with unbroken rice grains
• अक्षतैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सुमनोभिः: with flowers
• सुमनोभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमनस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

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

• वाचयित्वा: having caused to recite / having had (them) recite
• Type: Verb
• Root: वाचय् (णिच्) / वच्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (causative sense)

• महाबाहुः: the mighty-armed (one)
• महाबाहुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• द्विजान्: Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मधु: with honey
• मधु: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• सर्पिः: with ghee
• सर्पिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अभभ्याः: with worthy/fit (offerings) (reading uncertain)
• अभभ्याः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभव्य
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• फलैः: with fruits
• फलैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• श्रेष्ठैः: with excellent (ones)
• श्रेष्ठैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सुमाल्यैः: with fine garlands
• सुमाल्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमाल्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• mahābhujaḥ (unnamed mighty-armed person)
• dvijāḥ (Brahmins)
• akṣata (unbroken grains)
• sumanas (flowers)
• madhu (honey)
• sarpiḥ (ghee)
• phala (fruits)