Shloka 36

Bhāgīrathī-tīra-śauca, Kurukṣetra-gamana, and Śatayūpa-āśrama-dīkṣā (गङ्गातीरशौच–कुरुक्षेत्रगमन–शतयूपाश्रमदीक्षा)

Devanagari script

तच्छुत्वा प्रीतिमान्‌ राजा भूत्वा धर्मजमब्रवीत्‌ । आपो मूलं फल चैव ममेदं प्रतिगृह्यताम्‌

Transliteration

tac chrutvā prītimān rājā bhūtvā dharmajam abravīt | āpo mūlaṁ phalaṁ caiva mamedam pratigṛhyatām ||

Translation

王闻此言，心生欢喜，对法王坚战说道：“吾子，请受我这清水、这些根茎与这些果实。”

Word by Word

• {'tac chrutvā': 'having heard that', 'prītimān': 'filled with joy/affection', 'rājā': 'the king', 'bhūtvā': 'having become', 'dharmajam': 'the son of Dharma

• Yudhiṣṭhira', 'abravīt': 'said/spoke', 'āpaḥ': 'water', 'mūlam': 'roots (edible forest roots)', 'phalam': 'fruit', 'ca eva': 'and indeed/also', 'mama idam': 'this of mine

• this that I have', 'pratigṛhyatām': 'may it be accepted

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmaja/Dharmarāja)
• water (āpaḥ)
• roots (mūla)
• fruits (phala)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in renunciation and hardship, dharma is upheld through respectful giving and receiving: simple forest fare (water, roots, fruits) becomes an ethical act of hospitality, affection, and humility rather than mere subsistence.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing the preceding news, the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) is pleased and addresses Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmaja), asking him to accept the modest provisions—water, roots, and fruits—offered by him in the forest setting.