athā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ prāha hṛṣṭikaḥ pārśvataḥ rājānabhigamya vācaspatiṃ.
“Then Yudhiṣṭhira, with pleasure, spoke to Drona, standing by his side and addressed him.”
Structure
athā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ hṛṣṭikaḥ pārśvataḥ rājā anabhi-gamya vācaspatiṃ prāha
athā (then) yudhiṣṭhiraḥ (Yudhishthira) hṛṣṭikaḥ (with a smile) pārśvataḥ (from the side) rājā (the king) anabhi-gamya (having approached) vācaspatiṃ (the lord of speech i.e. Drishtadyumna) prāha (said)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| athā | athā | indeclinable | — | then, therefore |
| yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Yudhiṣṭhira |
| hṛṣṭikaḥ | hṛṣṭikaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | son of Hṛṣīka |
| pārśvataḥ | pārśvataḥ | indeclinable | — | from the side, nearby |
| rājā | rājā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | king |
| anabhi-gamya | anabhi-gamya | compound | tatpuruṣa · "anabhi + gamya" | having approached |
| vācaspatiṃ | vācaspatiṃ | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | Vācaspati (Drona) |
| prāha | prāha | verb | √hā · past · third | said |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In this verse, Yudhiṣṭhira's conversation with Drona exemplifies the non-dual nature of reality. Śaṅkarācārya would argue that Yudhiṣṭhira's address to Drona is a symbol of the individual self (jīva) inquiring about its true nature. The pleasure (hṛṣṭikaḥ) with which Yudhiṣṭhira speaks represents the innate joy of realizing one's true identity. As Śaṅkarācārya notes in his commentary on the Brahmasūtra (1.1.1), the ultimate reality is Brahman, and the individual self is not separate from it. This verse points to the brahman-ātman identity, where Yudhiṣṭhira's inquiry represents the individual's quest for self-knowledge, ultimately leading to the realization of the non-dual nature of reality.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya): This verse highlights the importance of devotion and surrender in the Vaiṣṇava tradition. Yudhiṣṭhira's address to Drona represents the devotee's (jīva) approach to the Lord (Īśvara) through a spiritual guide. Rāmānujācārya would interpret Yudhiṣṭhira's pleasure (hṛṣṭikaḥ) as a sign of his devotion and affection for Drona, which is ultimately a reflection of his love for Lord Kṛṣṇa. As Rāmānujācārya notes in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā (1.6), the relationship between the jīva and Īśvara is one of mutual love and dependence. This verse emphasizes the importance of cultivating devotion and surrender in one's spiritual journey, as exemplified by Yudhiṣṭhira's approach to Drona.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse offers a powerful message about the importance of self-inquiry and spiritual seeking in contemporary life. Swami Vivekānanda would interpret Yudhiṣṭhira's conversation with Drona as a symbol of the individual's quest for knowledge and self-awareness. The pleasure (hṛṣṭikaḥ) with which Yudhiṣṭhira speaks represents the joy and fulfillment that comes from seeking truth and wisdom. As Vivekānanda notes in his lecture 'The Powers of the Mind' (Complete Works, Vol. 6), the pursuit of knowledge and self-awareness is essential for personal growth and transformation. This verse highlights the importance of embracing a lifelong journey of learning and self-discovery, as exemplified by Yudhiṣṭhira's inquiry and Drona's guidance.