Shloka 31
Kṛṣṇa’s Departure, Auspicious Omens, and the Opening of the Uttaṅka Dialogue (कृष्णप्रयाण-निमित्त-उत्तङ्कसंवाद-प्रारम्भः)
Devanagari script
क्षत्तारं चापि संगृहा पृष्टत्वा कुशलमव्ययम्
Transliteration
kṣattāraṃ cāpi saṃgṛhya pṛṣṭvā kuśalam avyayam
Translation
毗舍波耶那说：他也走近那位内廷侍臣（掌室者），握住他，先问其长久安泰——是否一切平安无恙、毫无损害。此句体现合乎达摩的礼法：在陈述自身事务之前，先关切他人之安康。
Word by Word
क्षत्तारम्the chamberlain/attendant (kṣattā)
क्षत्तारम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootक्षत्तृ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
अपिalso/even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
संगृह्यhaving taken/received (having gathered)
संगृह्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-ग्रह्
FormAbsolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
पृष्ट्वाhaving asked
पृष्ट्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootपृच्छ्
FormAbsolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
कुशलम्welfare/well-being
कुशलम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकुशल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अव्ययम्undiminished/unchanged; safe
अव्ययम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootअव्यय
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VaiśampāyanaK
kṣattṛ (chamberlain/attendant)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic etiquette: one should begin interactions by respectfully inquiring into another’s welfare, signaling goodwill and non-harm before pursuing one’s own aims.
A figure (implied from context) approaches the court officer (kṣattṛ) and first asks about his well-being—an opening gesture of respect and reassurance that all is safe and in order.