Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 36

ब्राह्मणपूजायां व्युष्टिः — Vyuṣṭi (Merit-Outcome) of Honoring Brāhmaṇas: Kṛṣṇa and Durvāsā

Devanagari script

सो<यं वहल्लिरुपागम्य पादमूले ममान्तिकम्‌ । शिष्यवत्‌ परिचर्यार्थ शान्त: प्रकृतिमागत:

Transliteration

so ’yaṁ vahallir upāgamya pādamūle mamāntikam | śiṣyavat paricaryārthaṁ śāntaḥ prakṛtim āgataḥ ||

Translation

Wika ni Vāyu: “Ang Vahalli ring ito ay nagbalik sa akin; paglapit sa paanan ko, yumukod siya sa pinakaugat ng aking paa at, tulad ng isang alagad, nagnasang maglingkod. Pagkaraan, nang siya’y mapayapa, nagbalik siya sa dati niyang likas na kalagayan.”

Word by Word

• सः: he/that one
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वहल्लिः: Vahalli (proper name)
• वहल्लिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वहल्लि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उपागम्य: having approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-गम्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral in gerund)

• पादमूले: at the foot/at the feet (lit. at the root of the feet)
• पादमूले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादमूल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• मम: of me/my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

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

• शिष्यवत्: like a disciple
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शिष्यवत्

• परिचर्यार्थम्: for the purpose of service/attendance
• परिचर्यार्थम्: Prayojana (purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिचर्या-अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शान्तः: calm, pacified
• शान्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रकृतिम्: natural state; original condition
• प्रकृतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आगतः: having come; returned; attained
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle, used actively), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• Vahalli

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic value of humility and disciplined service: approaching a worthy authority with reverence (at the feet), adopting the attitude of a disciple, and through calmness returning to one’s proper nature.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva narrates that Vahalli comes back to him, bows at his feet, and offers service like a student. After this act of submission and service, Vahalli becomes peaceful and regains his earlier, natural state.