Shloka 56

Āśvamedha-dīkṣā-nirdeśaḥ — Scheduling the Initiation and Assigning Protection for the Horse

Devanagari script

कीर्तयन्त: स्वनामानि तस्य पादौ ववन्दिरे । वे यथायोग्य सबसे मिलकर राजा धृतराष्ट्रके पास गये। अपना-अपना नाम बताते हुए उनके चरणोंमें प्रणाम करने लगे

Transliteration

kīrtayantaḥ svanāmāni tasya pādau vavandire |

Translation

他们各自诵报姓名，俯伏于其足下。众人依礼成序，一同前往觐见持国王（Dhṛtarāṣṭra），并在自陈名号之后，奉上恭敬的礼拜——此举在战后仍守朝廷仪范，彰显谦恭与敬老之德。

Word by Word

• कीर्तयन्तः: uttering/reciting (their names)
• कीर्तयन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्तयत् (कृदन्त; √कीर्त्/कीर्तय्)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपद-प्रयोगार्थ (कर्तरि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्वनामानि: their own names
• स्वनामानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वनामन्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• पादौ: feet
• पादौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• ववन्दिरे: they bowed down / paid obeisance
• ववन्दिरे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वन्द्
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्ण भूत/परफेक्ट), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम, बहुवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma expressed as humility and proper conduct: one should approach elders and authority figures with respect, identify oneself truthfully, and offer reverence in an orderly, appropriate manner.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group approaches King Dhṛtarāṣṭra together; each announces his name and bows at the king’s feet, formally paying respects according to established etiquette.