Shloka 16

उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १२५: दुर्योधनस्य प्रत्युत्तरम्

Duryodhana’s Reply in the Kuru Assembly

Devanagari script

अर्जुनेन यमाभ्यां च त्रिभिस्तैरभिवादित: । मूर्थ्नि तान्‌ समुपाप्राय प्रेम्णाभिवद पार्थिव

Transliteration

arjunena yamābhyāṃ ca tribhis tair abhivāditaḥ | mūrdhni tān samupāprāya premṇābhivada pārthiva ||

Translation

ହେ ରାଜନ! ଅର୍ଜୁନ ଓ ଯମଜ ନକୁଳ-ସହଦେବ—ଏ ତିନି ଭାଇ ତୁମକୁ ପ୍ରଣାମ କରିଛନ୍ତି; ତୁମେ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ଯାଇ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ମସ୍ତକ ସୁଘି ସ୍ନେହ ସ୍ୱୀକାର କରି, ପ୍ରେମପୂର୍ବକ ଅଭିବାଦନ କରି ସ୍ନେହଭରା କଥା କହ।

Word by Word

• अर्जुनेन: by Arjuna
• अर्जुनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• यमाभ्याम्: by the two (sons of Yama) i.e., Nakula and Sahadeva
• यमाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• त्रिभिः: by three
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अभिवादितः: having been saluted / greeted
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-वाद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• समुपाप्राय: approached / went up to
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-आ-प्र-इ (प्रै)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रेम्णा: with affection
• प्रेम्णा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेमन्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अभिवद: speak to / greet
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-वाद्
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पार्थिव: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• King (pārthiva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic etiquette within family and polity: juniors show reverence through obeisance, and the elder/king responds with affectionate acceptance (symbolized by smelling the head) and gentle speech—restoring bonds through respectful conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a moment of formal greeting: Arjuna and the twin brothers Nakula and Sahadeva have paid respects to a king/elder, and the king is urged to approach them, affectionately acknowledge them by smelling their heads, and converse with them warmly.