Mahabharata 7.84.12 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 84, Shloka 12

अलम्बुस-वधः

The Neutralization of Alambusa

Devanagari script

हरिणा चन्दनेनाड्रमुपलिप्य महाभुज: । स्रग्वी चाक्लिष्टवसन: प्राड्मुख: प्राउजलि: स्थित:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

hariṇā candanenārdram upalipya mahābhujaḥ |

sragvī cākliṣṭavasanaḥ prāṅmukhaḥ prāñjaliḥ sthitaḥ ||

Translation

Wika ni Sañjaya: Matapos pahiran ang kanyang katawan ng mamasa-masang dilaw na paste ng sandalwood, ang makapangyarihang-higanteng bisig na (hari) ay tumindig na may kuwintas ng bulaklak at nakasuot ng bagong kasuotan—malinis at walang dungis. Nakaharap sa silangan, nakapagdaupang-palad sa paggalang, nanatili siyang panatag—hudyat ng sinadyang pagtalikod tungo sa ritwal na kadalisayan, pagpipigil-sa-sarili, at paninindigang dharmiko sa gitna ng bigat ng digmaan.

Word by Word

• हरिणा: with yellow (sandal-paste)
• हरिणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• चन्दनेन: with sandalwood (paste)
• चन्दनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• आर्द्रम्: moist, wet
• आर्द्रम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्द्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उपलिप्य: having smeared/anointed
• Type: Verb
• Root: उपलिप् (उप + लिप्)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund/त्वान्त), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• महाभुजः: the mighty-armed (one)
• महाभुजः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभुज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्रग्वी: wearing a garland
• स्रग्वी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्रग्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• अक्लिष्टवसनः: wearing unstained/clean garments
• अक्लिष्टवसनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्लिष्टवसन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्राङ्मुखः: facing east
• प्राङ्मुखः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राङ्मुख
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्राञ्जलिः: with joined palms
• प्राञ्जलिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्थितः: stood/remained (seated/positioned)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• yellow sandalwood paste (haricandana)
• garland (sraj)
• clean garments (vasana)
• east (pūrva/prācī direction)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in the midst of conflict, dharmic leadership emphasizes inner discipline and outward restraint: cleanliness, reverence, and deliberate orientation toward auspicious action. The verse frames ritual composure as a moral counterweight to the chaos of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Yudhiṣṭhira preparing in a formal, auspicious manner—anointing himself with yellow sandal paste, wearing a garland and clean clothes, and standing (or remaining) facing east with folded hands—indicating readiness for prayer, vow, or a solemn rite before the next action.