Shloka 3

Akrūra in Hastināpura: Kuntī’s Lament and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Moral Instruction

Devanagari script

यथावदुपसङ्गम्य बन्धुभिर्गान्दिनीसुत: । सम्पृष्टस्तै: सुहृद्वार्तां स्वयं चापृच्छदव्ययम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

yathāvad upasaṅgamya bandhubhir gāndinī-sutaḥ sampṛṣṭas taiḥ suhṛd-vārtāṁ svayaṁ cāpṛcchad avyayam

Translation

गान्दिनीपुत्र अक्रूराने यथाविधी नातेवाईकांना भेटून अभिवादन केले. मग त्यांनी त्याच्याकडे सुहृदांची वार्ता विचारली, आणि त्यानेही त्यांच्या अव्यय कुशल-क्षेमाची चौकशी केली.

Synonyms

• यथावत्: duly
• यथावत्: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘properly/duly’)

• उपसङ्गम्य: having approached
• उपसङ्गम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + सम् + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having approached/met’

• बन्धुभिः: with relatives
• बन्धुभिः: Sahakāraka (सह/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/सह), बहुवचन

• गान्दिनी-सुतः: the son of Gāndinī (Akrura)
• गान्दिनी-सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्दिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘son of Gāndinī’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सम्पृष्टः: being asked
• सम्पृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता) (of passive sense)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्रछ् (धातु) → सम्पृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थ: ‘having been asked’

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Kartṛ (कर्ता) (in passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सुहृत्-वार्ताम्: news about friends
• सुहृत्-वार्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + वार्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘news of friends’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta-nirdeśa (कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-अव्यय (reflexive adverb: ‘himself’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• अपृच्छत्: asked
• अपृच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रछ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अव्ययम्: fully/without omission (lit. unfailing)
• अव्ययम्: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier of what was asked)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वार्ताम्/प्रश्नम् इत्यर्थे ‘unfailing/unchanging’ (intensively: ‘in detail/without omission’)

Characters & Entities

• Akrūra
• Gāndinī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about proper etiquette when meeting relatives?

This verse shows Akrūra approaching his kinsmen “yathāvat”—in the fitting, respectful manner—and exchanging inquiries about everyone’s well-being, presenting social conduct as part of dharma.

Why were Akrura’s relatives questioning him about the welfare of friends?

Because Akrūra had come from significant events connected to the Yādavas, his family naturally asked for “suhṛd-vārtā”—news of their well-wishers—before other matters.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Meet people respectfully, ask sincerely about their welfare and the well-being of those they care about, and maintain steady composure—courtesy is also a form of devotion and dharma.