Shloka 396

Devanagari script

कलशं पूर्णमादाय राज्ञोडन्तिकमुपागमत्‌ | राजाकी वह बात मानकर ब्राह्मणशिरोमणि कृपाचार्य जलसे भरा हुआ कलश ले उसके समीप आये

Transliteration

kalaśaṃ pūrṇam ādāya rājño 'ntikam upāgamat |

Translation

Sañjaya said: Taking a water-pot filled to the brim, he approached the king. The scene underscores the courtly ethic of service and ritual propriety—an act of respectful attendance that frames counsel and action within accepted dharmic decorum, even amid the pressures of war.

Word by Word

• कलशम्: a pot, pitcher
• कलशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पूर्णम्: full
• पूर्णम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund), Non-finite

• राज्ञः: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अन्तिकम्: near, vicinity
• अन्तिकम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तिक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उपागमत्: approached, went near
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + गम्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• the king (rājā)
• kalaśa (water-pot)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a war setting, actions are framed by dharmic decorum: respectful service and ritual readiness (symbolized by a full kalaśa) support orderly counsel and conduct at court.

What is happening in the narrative?

A person (contextually a court figure) takes a brimful water-pot and approaches the king, indicating preparation for a formal act—such as attendance, ritual service, or the setting for counsel.