Shloka 123
अङ्गददूतवाक्यं लङ्काप्राकारभेदनं च
Angada’s Embassy and the Breach of Laṅkā’s Ramparts
पाद्य॑ प्रतिगृहाणेदमासनं च नृपात्मज । मेरे पति कुरुकुलरत्न कुन्तीकुमार राजा युधिष्ठिर सकुशल हैं। मैं, उनके चारों भाई तथा अन्य जिन लोगोंके विषयमें तुम पूछ रहे हो, वे सब कुशलसे हैं। राजकुमार! यह पैर धोनेके लिये जल है, इसे ग्रहण करो और यह आसन है, इसपर बैठो
pādyaṃ pratigṛhāṇedam āsanaṃ ca nṛpātmaja | me patī kurukularatnaḥ kuntīkumāro rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ sakuśalaḥ | ahaṃ tasya catvāro bhrātaraś ca ye cānye yān tvam pṛcchasi te sarve kuśalinaḥ | rājakumāra etat pādyaṃ pādaprākṣālanārthaṃ gṛhāṇa idaṃ cāsanaṃ tatropaviśa ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Prince, accept this water for washing your feet, and accept this seat. My husband—Yudhiṣṭhira, the Kuntī-born king, jewel of the Kuru line—is safe and well. I too, his four brothers, and all the others about whom you ask are likewise in good health. Take this water for the washing of your feet, and sit here upon this seat.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic hospitality: welcoming a guest with pādya (water for washing the feet) and an āsana (seat), while speaking truthfully and reassuringly about the welfare of one’s kin.
A speaker addresses a visiting prince, offers the formal courtesies of reception (foot-washing water and a seat), and reports that Yudhiṣṭhira and his brothers, along with others asked about, are all safe and well.