Shloka 21

Daiva–Puruṣakāra Saṃvāda

Kṛpa’s Counsel on Destiny and Human Effort

Devanagari script

सम्यगीहा पुनरियं यो वृद्धानुपसेवते

Transliteration

samyagīhā punariyaṃ yo vṛddhānupasevate

Translation

Kṛpa said: “This is indeed the proper course again—whoever attends upon and serves the elders.”

Word by Word

• सम्यक्: properly, rightly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb)

• ईहा: effort, endeavor
• ईहा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईहा
• Form: Feminine, nominative singular

• पुनः: again; moreover
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb)

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Feminine, nominative singular

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular

• वृद्धान्: elders
• वृद्धान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध
• Form: Masculine, accusative plural

• उपसेवते: serves; attends upon
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-सेव्
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person singular, Ātmanepada

Speaker

कृप उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Kṛpa
• elders (vṛddhāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Right conduct (samyag-īhā) is expressed through upasevā—attentive service and deference to elders and seniors, implying that ethical action is guided by respect for experienced authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Sauptika Parva’s tense aftermath of the war, Kṛpa offers counsel, affirming that the proper path is to heed and serve the elders—an appeal to restraint and dharmic guidance amid crisis.