Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

अभिवाद्याथ कौन्तेय: पितामहमरिंदम । द्वैपायनादीन वि्रांश्न तैश्न प्रत्यभिनन्दित:

Transliteration

abhivādyātha kaunteyaḥ pitāmaham ariṃdama | dvaipāyanādīn viprāṃś ca taiś ca pratyabhinanditaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Bấy giờ người con của Kuntī, kẻ khuất phục quân thù, trước hết cúi lạy bậc Tổ phụ. Sau đó chàng kính cẩn chào Vyāsa cùng các vị bà-la-môn khác; và họ cũng đáp lại bằng lời đón mừng và tán dương—nêu rõ rằng biết tôn kính bậc trưởng thượng và thầy dạy chính là dấu ấn của dharma.

Word by Word

• अभिवाद्य: having saluted
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√वद्
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थक अव्ययकृदन्त), कर्तरि, पूर्वकाल (having done)

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• कौन्तेयः: Kunti's son (Arjuna/Yudhiṣṭhira contextually)
• कौन्तेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौन्तेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पितामहम्: the grandsire (Bhīṣma)
• पितामहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अरिंदम: foe-subduing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्वैपायनादीन्: Vyāsa and others
• द्वैपायनादीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वैपायन-आदि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विप्रान्: brāhmaṇas
• विप्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रत्यभिनन्दितः: was welcomed / greeted in return
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-अभि-√नन्द्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular, कर्मणि

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kaunteya (Kuntī’s son)
• Pitāmaha (Bhīṣma)
• Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)
• Vipras (brāhmaṇas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic conduct through proper reverence: a righteous person, even if powerful, first honors elders and spiritual authorities (Bhīṣma, Vyāsa, and brāhmaṇas). Mutual greeting reinforces social and ethical order grounded in humility and respect.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kuntī’s son approaches and first pays obeisance to the Grandsire Bhīṣma, then bows to Vyāsa and other brāhmaṇas. They respond by welcoming and acknowledging him, marking a formal, respectful encounter before further instruction or discourse.