Shloka 29

The Episode of the Khañjarīṭa Bird

and the Saukarava Tīrtha’s Merit

Devanagari script

पितृमातृ वचः श्रुत्वा स बालो धर्मसंयुतः ॥ चरणावुपसंगृह्य पितरौ पुनरब्रवीत् ॥

Transliteration

pitṛ-mātṛ vacaḥ śrutvā sa bālo dharma-saṁyutaḥ || caraṇāv upasaṅgṛhya pitarau punar abravīt ||

Translation

പിതാവിന്റെയും മാതാവിന്റെയും വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ട് ധർമ്മസമ്പന്നനായ ആ ബാലൻ അവരുടെ പാദങ്ങൾ പിടിച്ച് വന്ദിച്ചു; പിന്നെ വീണ്ടും മാതാപിതാക്കളോട് പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• pitṛ-mātṛ: of father and mother
• pitṛ-mātṛ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ + mātṛ (पितृ + मातृ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dual compound; here Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular as a compound stem used attributively with vacaḥ (i.e., ‘of father and mother’)

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (वचस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having heard’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun

• bālaḥ: the boy
• bālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāla (बाल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• dharma-saṁyutaḥ: endowed with dharma
• dharma-saṁyutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + saṁyuta (धर्म + संयुत प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifies bālaḥ

• caraṇau: (their) two feet
• caraṇau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (चरण प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual

• upasaṅgṛhya: having clasped
• upasaṅgṛhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-saṁ-√grah (उप-सम्-ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having grasped/held (in reverence)’

• pitarau: the two parents
• pitarau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (पितृ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual; used for ‘parents’ (father and mother) by convention

• punaḥ: again/then
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• abravīt: he said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (Aorist/परोक्षभूत), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Eka-vacana (singular)

Speaker

Narrator (default dialogue frame: Varāha–Pṛthivī context; verse is narrative)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"None","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"varnashrama","instruction_summary":"Filial reverence is enacted through śuśrūṣā: hearing parents’ counsel and touching their feet before speaking.","karmic_consequence":"Respect to parents accrues puṇya and steadies one’s dharma; disregard is treated as adharma leading to social and karmic demerit."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ācāra (conduct as dharma)","core_concept":"Dharma is embodied first in manners—listening, humility, and respectful speech precede even renunciant aspirations.","practical_application":"Before asserting one’s path, honor elders: listen fully, respond without contempt, and keep speech grounded in vinaya."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Family relations","Conduct"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: vātsalya

Geographic Context

Type: household (gṛha) setting implied

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 138.32–34 (boy’s renunciant declaration and sacred aim)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dharmic boy bows and clasps the feet of his father and mother, then rises to speak—parents seated, composed, attentive.","item_prompts":["parents seated on low seats","boy touching feet (pāda-grahaṇa)","gesture of blessing","simple household interior","calm facial expressions"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Front-facing figures, stylized feet-touching pose, warm ochres, ornamental borders, serene eyes.","tanjore_prompt":"Gold-leaf accents on garments and halos, symmetrical composition with parents enthroned, boy in reverent posture.","mysore_prompt":"Soft chiaroscuro, delicate jewelry, realistic textiles; emphasis on tender family emotion.","pahari_prompt":"Intimate indoor scene, fine lines, pastel palette; expressive hands and gentle eye contact."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"reverent, composed","suggested_raga":"Śrī","pace":"slow-medium","voice_tone":"soft, respectful, narrative"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Ethical Instruction
• Social Customs

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It records a conventional marker of respect in Sanskrit narrative (touching/holding the feet), framing ethical speech within embodied social etiquette.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Respectful conduct toward parents as a prelude to reasoned personal decision-making.