Mahabharata 7.204.31 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 204, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

हरिकेशाय मुण्डाय कृशायोत्तारणाय च । भास्कराय सुतीर्थाय देवदेवाय रंहसे

Transliteration

harikeśāya muṇḍāya kṛśāyottāraṇāya ca | bhāskarāya sutīrthāya devadevāya raṁhase ||

Translation

ขอนอบน้อมแด่มหาเทวะ เทพเหนือเทพ ผู้มีเกศาสีน้ำตาลอมเหลือง ศีรษะเกลี้ยงเกลา กายผอมเพรียว และทรงพาข้ามห้วงสมุทรแห่งสังสาระ; ผู้รุ่งเรืองดุจสุริยะ เป็นทิรถะอันประเสริฐยิ่ง และทรงพลังรวดเร็วเกินต้านทาน।

Word by Word

• हरिकेशाय: to the one with tawny/greenish hair (Hari-keśa)
• हरिकेशाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिकेश
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• मुण्डाय: to the shaven-headed one
• मुण्डाय: Sampradana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• कृशाय: to the lean one
• कृशाय: Sampradana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृश
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• उत्तारणाय: to the deliverer / ferrier across
• उत्तारणाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तारण
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

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

• भास्कराय: to Bhāskara (the Sun-like one)
• भास्कराय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• सुतीर्थाय: to the excellent sacred ford/pilgrimage (su-tīrtha)
• सुतीर्थाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुतीर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• देवदेवाय: to the god of gods
• देवदेवाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवदेव
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• रंहसे: to the swift/impetuous one (speed)
• रंहसे: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रंहस्
• Form: Neuter, Dative, Singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Mahādeva (Śiva)
• Bhāskara (Sun, as epithet)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches reverence for the Supreme as both ascetic and savior: Śiva’s outward austerity (shaven head, leanness) signifies inner mastery, while his role as 'uttāraṇa' and 'sutīrtha' presents him as the compassionate passage that helps beings cross suffering and moral peril.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa utters a brief stuti (praise) to Mahādeva, invoking multiple epithets that highlight Śiva’s ascetic form and salvific power. In the broader epic context, such invocations typically sanctify the moment, seek divine support, and frame events within dharma and cosmic order.