Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

संस्कृत्य च कुरुश्रेष्ठं गाड़ेयं कुरुसत्तमा:

Transliteration

saṁskṛtya ca kuruśreṣṭhaṁ gāḍeyaṁ kurusattamāḥ

Translation

Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: “Nang maihanda at mapadalisay nang ayon sa tuntunin ang pinakadakila sa angkan ng Kuru, ang pinakamahuhusay sa kanila ay nagpatuloy nang may matatag na loob.”

Word by Word

• संस्कृत्य: having refined/adorned; having properly prepared
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + कृ (कृञ् करणे)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), कर्तरि

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

• कुरुश्रेष्ठम्: the best of the Kurus
• कुरुश्रेष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गाडेयम्: Gāḍeya (proper name)
• गाडेयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाडेय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कुरुसत्तमाः: the best of the Kurus (O best Kurus / the foremost Kurus)
• कुरुसत्तमाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुसत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Kuru lineage (Kurus)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes saṁskāra—doing things in a properly prepared, refined, and ritually/ethically correct manner—combined with steadfast resolve, a hallmark of dharmic conduct for those of noble lineage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana continues the narration, indicating that a foremost Kuru figure is being duly prepared or set in order (possibly through counsel, rites, or arrangements) and that the subsequent action is undertaken with firmness and determination.