Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 18
Devanagari script
संस्कृत्य च कुरुश्रेष्ठं गाड़ेयं कुरुसत्तमा:
Transliteration
saṁskṛtya ca kuruśreṣṭhaṁ gāḍeyaṁ kurusattamāḥ
Translation
ਵੈਸ਼ੰਪਾਯਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ— ਹੇ ਕੁਰੂਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ! ਕੁਰੂਸੱਤਮ ਨੇ ਗਾਂਗੇਯ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਧੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸੰਸਕ੍ਰਿਤ (ਸ਼ੁੱਧ ਤੇ ਸੁਸਜ्जਿਤ) ਕਰਕੇ ਅੱਗੇ ਦਾ ਕਰਮ ਕੀਤਾ।
Word by Word
संस्कृत्यhaving refined/adorned; having properly prepared
संस्कृत्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + कृ (कृञ् करणे)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), कर्तरि
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
कुरुश्रेष्ठम्the best of the Kurus
कुरुश्रेष्ठम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकुरुश्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
गाडेयम्Gāḍeya (proper name)
गाडेयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगाडेय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
कुरुसत्तमाःthe best of the Kurus (O best Kurus / the foremost Kurus)
कुरुसत्तमाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकुरुसत्तम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VaiśaṃpāyanaK
Kuru lineage (Kurus)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes saṁskāra—doing things in a properly prepared, refined, and ritually/ethically correct manner—combined with steadfast resolve, a hallmark of dharmic conduct for those of noble lineage.
Vaiśaṃpāyana continues the narration, indicating that a foremost Kuru figure is being duly prepared or set in order (possibly through counsel, rites, or arrangements) and that the subsequent action is undertaken with firmness and determination.