Shloka 19

Devanagari script

ततो5भिगम्य कौन्तेय: शिरसाभ्यगमद्‌ बली । स चैन वृत्तपीनाभ्यां बाहुशभ्यां प्रत्यगृह्नत,तदनन्तर बलवान कुन्तीकुमारने निकट जाकर देवेन्द्रके चरणोंमें मस्तक रख दिया और उन्होंने अपनी गोल-गोल मोटी भुजाओंसे उठाकर अर्जुनको हृदयसे लगा लिया

Transliteration

tato ’bhigamya kaunteyaḥ śirasābhyagamad balī | sa cainaṃ vṛttapīnākhyāṃ bāhuśābhyāṃ pratyagṛhṇat ||

Translation

Then the mighty son of Kuntī approached and bowed his head in reverence at Indra’s feet. Indra, with his rounded, powerful arms, lifted Arjuna up and drew him close to his heart—an act that affirms the ethical bond between father and son and the sanctity of respectful submission met by compassionate acceptance.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

अभिगम्यhaving approached

कौन्तेयःthe son of Kuntī (Arjuna)

शिरसाwith (his) head

अभ्यगमत्approached, went up to

बलीthe strong one

सःhe

चand

एनम्him

वृत्तपीनाभ्याम्with (his) round and stout (arms)

बाहुभ्याम्with (his) two arms

प्रत्यगृह्णत्took hold of, embraced

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Kaunteya (Arjuna)

Indra (Deveśa/Devarāja)

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?

Respectful humility (bowing with one’s head) is shown as a dharmic posture, and it is met by compassionate acceptance from the worthy recipient; the verse models how reverence and grace complete each other in ethical relationships, especially between child and parent or disciple and benefactor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna (Kaunteya) approaches Indra and bows at his feet; Indra responds by lifting him up and embracing him, signaling recognition, protection, and affectionate approval.