Shloka 57

Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances

Devanagari script

शार्टूलस्य वच:ः श्रुत्वा शार्ट्लजननी ततः

Transliteration

śārṭūlasya vacaḥ śrutvā śārṭlajananī tataḥ

Translation

ভীষ্ম বললেন—শার্টূলের কথা শুনে তখন শার্টূলের জননী উত্তর দিলেন—কারণ গৃহের অন্তরে গৃহীত উপদেশই পরবর্তী ধর্ম-নির্ণয় ও কর্মের ভিত্তি হয়।

Word by Word

• शार्टूलस्य: of Śārṭūla
• शार्टूलस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्टूल
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• शार्टूलजननी: the mother of Śārṭūla
• शार्टूलजननी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्टूल-जननी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śārṭūla
• Śārṭūla’s mother

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds śravaṇa (attentive listening) as a prerequisite for dharmic response: ethical action is shown as arising after hearing and weighing counsel, especially within intimate bonds like parent and child.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates a transition: Śārṭūla has spoken, his mother hears his words, and the story moves to her reply—setting up the next decision or instruction that will carry the moral point forward.