Shloka 54

Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त: स तया सक्तून्‌ प्रगृहोदं वचो5ब्रवीत्‌

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ sa tayā saktūn pragṛhodaṃ vaco 'bravīt

Translation

ఆమె ఇలా చెప్పగానే అతడు సక్తువులను (సత్తూ అర్పణను) చేతబట్టి, గౌరవ స్వాగతముద్రతో వినయంగా ప్రత్యుత్తరం పలికెను—కష్టకాలములోనూ ధర్మగృహ శిష్టాచారము, ఆత్మనిగ్రహము నిలుపుచూ.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti

• uktaḥ: having been spoken to / addressed
• uktaḥ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (√vac) → ukta (PPP)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (pronoun)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tayā: by her
• tayā: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (pronoun)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• saktūn: parched grain/flour-balls (saktu)
• saktūn: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: saktu
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• pragṛhya: having taken/accepted
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + grah (√grah)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (pronoun)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• abravīt: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (√brū)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

नकुल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nakula
• a woman (tayā, unnamed in this verse)
• saktūn (parched grain/food offering)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in strained circumstances, dharma is upheld through respectful reception of offerings and measured speech; courtesy and restraint are presented as ethical strengths.

What is happening in the narrative?

After a woman addresses him, Nakula accepts the simple food (saktūn) and responds with words, indicating a formal, courteous exchange and the observance of proper conduct.