Shloka 8

Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 1 — The Pandavas’ Exit from Gajasāhvaya and the Citizens’ Lament (जनमेजयप्रश्नः; पाण्डवानां वनप्रस्थानम्)

Devanagari script

श्रोतुमिच्छामि चरितं भूरिद्रविणतेजसाम्‌ । कथ्यमानं त्वया विप्र परं कौतूहलं हि मे,ब्रह्मन! मैं आपके द्वारा कहे जाते हुए महान्‌ पराक्रम और तेजसे सम्पन्न पाण्डवोंके चरित्रको सुनना चाहता हूँ। इसके लिये मेरे मनमें अत्यन्त कौतूहल हो रहा है

Transliteration

śrotum icchāmi caritaṃ bhūridraviṇatejasām | kathyamānaṃ tvayā vipra paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me ||

Translation

قال جناميجايا: «أرغب أن أسمع سيرة الباندافا—رجالًا أوتوا وفرةً من الثروة وبأسًا متلألئًا—كما ترويها أنت، أيها البراهمن العالِم؛ فإن شوقي إلى معرفتها عظيمٌ جدًّا».

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'śrotum', 'definition': 'to hear (infinitive of √śru, ‘to hear’)'}, {'term': 'icchāmi', 'definition': 'I desire, I wish'}, {'term': 'caritam', 'definition': 'conduct, deeds, life-story, narrative of actions'}, {'term': 'bhūri', 'definition': 'abundant, great, plentiful'}, {'term': 'draviṇa', 'definition': 'wealth, riches, resources'}, {'term': 'tejas', 'definition': 'splendor, energy, valor, spiritual and martial brilliance'}, {'term': 'bhūridraviṇatejasām', 'definition': 'of those possessing abundant wealth and splendor/valor (genitive plural compound)'}, {'term': 'kathyamānam', 'definition': 'being narrated, being told'}, {'term': 'tvayā', 'definition': 'by you (instrumental singular)'}, {'term': 'vipra', 'definition': 'O brāhmaṇa, learned priest/sage (vocative)'}, {'term': 'param', 'definition': 'supreme, very great, intense'}, {'term': 'kautūhalam', 'definition': 'curiosity, eager interest, wonder'}, {'term': 'hi', 'definition': 'indeed, for (emphatic particle)'}, {'term': 'me', 'definition': 'for me, my (genitive/dative enclitic)'}]

Speaker

जनमेजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Janamejaya
• Pāṇḍavas
• Vipra (brāhmaṇa narrator)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical importance of śravaṇa (attentive listening) to itihāsa: a ruler’s earnest desire to hear the deeds and character of exemplary figures becomes a means to learn dharma, leadership, and right conduct through narrative.

What is happening in the narrative?

King Janamejaya addresses the brāhmaṇa narrator and requests a detailed account of the Pāṇḍavas’ life and deeds, expressing intense curiosity and readiness to hear the story as it is recounted.