Mahabharata 7.83.13 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 83, Shloka 13

Saumadatti-vadha and Bhīma–Alambusa-saṃyoga (सौमदत्तिवधः तथा भीमालम्बुससंयोगः)

Devanagari script

गृणन्तौ वेदविद्वांसौ तद्‌ ब्रह्म शतरुद्रियम्‌ अप्रमेयं प्रणमतो गत्वा सर्वात्मना भवम्‌

Transliteration

gṛṇantau vedavidvāṃsau tad brahma śatarudriyam aprameyaṃ praṇamato gatvā sarvātmanā bhavam

Translation

അവർ ഇരുവരും വേദവിദ്വാന്മാരായിരുന്നു; അതിനാൽ ശതരുദ്രീയ മന്ത്രങ്ങൾ ജപിച്ചുകൊണ്ട്, ബ്രഹ്മസ്വരൂപനായ അപ്രമേയ ഭവൻ (ശിവൻ)നെ സർവ്വാത്മനാ ശരണം പ്രാപിച്ച്, അവനെ പ്രണാമം ചെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• गृणन्तौ: reciting/praising (two persons)
• गृणन्तौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गृ (गिर्) धातु
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुं, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• वेदविद्वांसौ: two knowers of the Veda
• वेदविद्वांसौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदविद्वस्
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ब्रह्म: Brahman / the Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शतरुद्रियम्: the Śatarudriya (hymn/mantra-section)
• शतरुद्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतरुद्रिय
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अप्रमेयम्: immeasurable, beyond measure
• अप्रमेयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रमेय
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रणमतः: bowing down (two persons)
• प्रणमतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् धातु
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुं, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् धातु
• Form: क्त्वा (अव्ययभाव/gerund), true

• सर्वात्मना: with the whole self; wholly
• सर्वात्मना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वात्मन्
• Form: पुं, तृतीया, एकवचन

• भवम्: Bhava (Śiva)
• भवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śiva (Bhava/Rudra)
• Śatarudrīya (hymn)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Vedic learning is shown as culminating in humility and wholehearted surrender to the Supreme (here identified with Śiva/Bhava). The verse frames devotion and reverence as ethical anchors, especially when actions unfold in a violent wartime setting.

What is happening in the narrative?

Two Veda-knowing figures approach Śiva, reciting the Śatarudrīya hymns, and bow to him completely. Sañjaya narrates their act of worship and taking refuge in the immeasurable divine presence.