Shloka 9

Śalya-parva Adhyāya 34: Balarāma’s Withdrawal, Sarasvatī Pilgrimage Logistics, and Prabhāsa as Soma’s Renewal Tīrtha

Devanagari script

कृष्णौ चापि महेष्वासावभिवाद्य हलायुधम्‌

Transliteration

kṛṣṇau cāpi maheṣvāsāv abhivādya halāyudham

Translation

三阇耶说道：两位“黑天”（二克里希那）——那两位伟大的弓手——也向持犁者哈拉尤陀（婆罗罗摩）恭敬致礼。此刻凸显史诗的伦理：纵在战争的压力与分裂之中，仍当敬奉长者与可敬的亲族。

Word by Word

• कृष्णौ: the two Krishnas (Krishna and Arjuna)
• कृष्णौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• महेष्वासौ: the two great archers
• महेष्वासौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• अभिवाद्य: having saluted / having paid respects to
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + वद्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage as gerund)

• हलायुधम्: Halāyudha (Balarāma; 'whose weapon is a plough')
• हलायुधम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हलायुध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva)
• Kṛṣṇa (Arjuna, often called Kṛṣṇa/Śyāma in epic usage)
• Halāyudha (Balarāma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a fractured, war-driven setting, dharma expresses itself through basic ethical discipline—showing reverence to elders and honored relatives. Courtesy and respect are not suspended by conflict; they are markers of inner restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the two figures referred to as ‘the two Kṛṣṇas’—described as great archers—approach and formally salute Halāyudha, i.e., Balarāma, acknowledging his seniority and revered status.