Shloka 17

Balarāma Humbles the Kurus and Rescues Sāmba

Devanagari script

सोऽभिवन्द्याम्बिकापुत्रं भीष्मं द्रोणं च बाह्लिकम् । दुर्योधनं च विधिवद् राममागतमब्रवीत् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

so ’bhivandyāmbikā-putraṁ bhīṣmaṁ droṇaṁ ca bāhlikam duryodhanaṁ ca vidhi-vad rāmam āgataṁ abravīt

Translation

ఉద్ధవుడు అంబికాపుత్రుడైన ధృతరాష్ట్రునికి, భీష్మ, ద్రోణ, బాహ్లిక, దుర్యోధనులకు విధివిధానంగా నమస్కరించి, రాముడు (బలరాముడు) వచ్చాడని తెలియజేశాడు.

Synonyms

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

• abhivandya: having saluted
• abhivandya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√vand (वन्द् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form; ‘having paid respects’

• ambikā-putram: Ambikā’s son
• ambikā-putram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambikā (अम्बिका) + putra (पुत्र)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘Ambikā’s son’ (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

• bhīṣmam: Bhīṣma
• bhīṣmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīṣma (भीष्म प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• droṇam: Droṇa
• droṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: droṇa (द्रोण प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-निपात)

• bāhlikam: Bāhlika
• bāhlikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhlika (बाह्लिक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• duryodhanam: Duryodhana
• duryodhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duryodhana (दुर्योधन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-निपात)

• vidhi-vat: properly, as prescribed
• vidhi-vat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (विधि) + vat (वत् प्रत्यय; अव्यय-रूप)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय) meaning ‘according to rule/properly’

• rāmam: Rāma
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (राम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āgatam: arrived
• āgatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying rāmam

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that there is no reference here to Uddhava offering respect to Yudhiṣṭhira and his associates, since at that time the Pāṇḍavas were staying in Indraprastha.

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Droṇa
• Bāhlika
• Duryodhana
• Balarāma (Rāma)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about proper etiquette when meeting elders and teachers?

This verse highlights vidhivat—meeting respected elders and authorities by first offering formal obeisances, showing that dharma includes correct social and spiritual conduct.

Why is Balarama (Rama) specifically mentioned as being addressed after the obeisances?

The verse shows a sequence of protocol: after honoring senior figures like Bhishma and Drona, the speaker then turns to address Balarama, whose arrival is central to the unfolding discussion.

How can this shloka be applied in modern devotional life?

Approach saints, teachers, and elders with humility first—offer respect before speaking—so that one’s words and actions align with dharma and cultivate devotion.