Shloka 34

Devanagari script

अभिमन्त्रयाथ तानेवं शिरसा लम्बताब्रवीत्‌ | शिरो मे लम्बते>त्यर्थमुपधानं प्रदीयताम्‌

Transliteration

abhimantrayātha tān evaṁ śirasā lambatābravīt | śiro me lambate ity artham upadhānaṁ pradīyatām ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Sau khi chào đón họ như thế, ông nói như thể đầu đang trĩu xuống: “Hỡi các bậc quân vương, đầu ta nặng trĩu và rũ xuống; xin hãy ban cho ta một chiếc gối.”

Word by Word

• अभिमन्त्रयाथ: you all addressed / greeted (with words)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-मन्त्र्
• Form: लुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 2, plural

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• लम्बता: hanging down
• लम्बता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लम्बत्
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• अब्रवीत्: said / spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: लुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 3, singular

• शिरः: (my) head
• शिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• मे: my / of me
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: genitive, singular

• लम्बते: hangs down
• Type: Verb
• Root: लम्ब्
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, 3, singular

• इति: thus (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• अर्थम्: meaning / sense
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• उपधानम्: a pillow / headrest
• उपधानम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपधान
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• प्रदीयताम्: let it be given
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा
• Form: लोट् (imperative), कर्मणि (passive), 3, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• राजानः (kings)
• शिरस् (head)
• उपधान (pillow/head-rest)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a martial and royal context, the verse highlights human limitation and the appropriateness of seeking support. It also reflects courtly decorum: after formal greeting, a request is made plainly, reminding that dignity and vulnerability can coexist.

What is happening in the narrative?

After offering a respectful welcome, the speaker—described as having his head drooping—states that his head is hanging down and asks the assembled kings to provide a pillow (a head-rest).