Shloka 4

स्त्रीपर्व — गान्धारीभीमसेनसंवादः

Strī-parva — Gāndhārī–Bhīmasena Dialogue on Wartime Conduct

Devanagari script

स गज्जायामुपस्पृश्य पुण्यगन्धि पय:ः शुचि । त॑ देशमुपसम्पेदे परमर्षिमनोजव:

Transliteration

sa gajjāyām upaspṛśya puṇya-gandhi payaḥ śuci | taṁ deśam upasampede paramarṣim ano-javaḥ ||

Translation

Having performed ritual purification at Gajjā with clean water fragrant with sanctity, he—swift as thought—proceeded to that place where the supreme seer was. The verse underscores the ethical tone of approaching a revered sage: inner intent is supported by outer purity and reverent preparation.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गज्जायाम्: in/at the (river/stream) Gajjā
• गज्जायाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्री, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• उपस्पृश्य: having touched/washed (i.e., performed ablution)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थक अव्ययभाव), कर्तरि, पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (absolutive)

• पुण्यगन्धि: sweet/fragrant, of holy fragrance
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य + गन्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पयः: water
• पयः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शुचि: pure/clean
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देशम्: place/region
• देशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपसम्पेदे: reached/approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + सम् + पद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद/आत्मनेपद-रूपेण परोक्षभूतार्थे), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम, एकवचन

• परमर्षिमनोजवः: the swift one (as fast as thought), the great sage
• परमर्षिमनोजवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + ऋषि + मनोजव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वैशम्पायन
• गज्जा
• परमर्षि

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Before seeking counsel or presence of a great sage, one should cultivate purity and reverence—symbolized by ablution at a sacred place—so that the approach is ethically and ritually appropriate.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a person who first performs purification at the sacred spot called Gajjā using sanctified, clean water, and then quickly proceeds to the location of a supreme seer.