Shloka 24

Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)

Devanagari script

एवं सा संस्तुतानेन वरं लब्ध्वा महानदी

Transliteration

evaṃ sā saṃstutānena varaṃ labdhvā mahānadī

Translation

Thus, that great river—having been praised by him—obtained a boon, marking a moment where reverent speech and due honor are shown to yield auspicious results within the unfolding narrative.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• सा: she
• सा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• संस्तुता: praised, eulogized
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संस्तुत (√स्तु)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अनेन: by him/with this (person/means)
• अनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for absolutive)

• महानदी: the great river
• महानदी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानदी (महा + नदी)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• mahānadī (a great river)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical power of respectful praise (saṃstuti): honoring a worthy being—here personified as a great river—becomes a cause for receiving a boon, implying that humility and reverence can bring auspicious outcomes.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaishampayana states that a great river, having been extolled by a certain person, received a boon; the line functions as a narrative link indicating the successful result of that praise and the boon’s bestowal.