Shloka 9

अलम्बुस-वधः

The Neutralization of Alambusa

Devanagari script

भद्रासने सूपविष्ट: परिधायाम्बरं लघु । सस्नौ चन्दनसंयुक्तै: पानीयैरभिमन्त्रितै:,उस समय एक हलका वस्त्र पहनकर राजा युधिष्छिर भद्रासन (चौकी)-पर बैठ गये और चन्दनयुक्त मन्त्रपूत जलसे स्नान करने लगे

Transliteration

bhadrāsane sūpaviṣṭaḥ paridhāyāmbaraṃ laghu | sasnau candanasaṃyuktaiḥ pānīyair abhimantritaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Having seated himself comfortably on a bhadrāsana and wearing a light garment, King Yudhiṣṭhira began to bathe with water that had been sanctified by mantras and mixed with sandalwood—an act of ritual purification undertaken with restraint and reverence amid the pressures of war.

Word by Word

भद्रासनेon the auspicious seat (bhadrāsana)

सूपविष्टःwell-seated

परिधायhaving put on / having worn

अम्बरम्a garment/cloth

लघुlight (in weight/thin)

सस्नौbathed

चन्दनसंयुक्तैःmixed with sandal (paste)

पानीयैःwith waters

अभिमन्त्रितैःconsecrated/enchanted (by mantras)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Yudhiṣṭhira

bhadrāsana

light garment (ambara)

mantra-consecrated water (abhimantrita pānīya)

sandalwood (candana)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a violent and morally complex setting, a dharmic ruler maintains inner discipline through śauca (purity) and reverent ritual action; the verse highlights restraint, auspicious preparation, and ethical steadiness rather than indulgence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Yudhiṣṭhira sitting on an auspicious seat, wearing a light cloth, and beginning a ceremonial bath using sandalwood-scented water that has been sanctified by mantras—indicating preparation for a solemn act or rite.