Shloka 22

Sundopasundayoḥ Tapas–Varadāna–Prasaṅgaḥ

Sunda and Upasunda: Austerities and the Boon

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच श्रुत्वा तु राधेयवचो धृतराष्ट्र: प्रतापवान्‌ | अभिपूज्य तत: पश्चादिदं वचनमब्रवीत्‌,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! कर्णकी बात सुनकर प्रतापी धृतराष्ट्रने उसकी बड़ी सराहना की और तदनन्तर इस प्रकार कहा--

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca

śrutvā tu rādheyavaco dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ pratāpavān |

abhipūjya tataḥ paścād idaṁ vacanam abravīt ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: „O Janamejaya, nachdem der mächtige Dhṛtarāṣṭra die Worte Rādheyas (Karnas) vernommen hatte, pries er ihn mit gebührender Ehre; und danach sprach er folgende Worte.“

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaiśampāyana

उवाचsaid

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

तुbut/indeed

राधेय-वचःthe words of Rādheya (Karna)

धृतराष्ट्रःDhṛtarāṣṭra

प्रतापवान्mighty, valorous

अभिपूज्यhaving honored/praised

ततःthen/from that

पश्चात्afterwards

इदम्this

वचनम्speech, statement

अब्रवीत्said/spoke

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Rādheya (Karna)

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and political importance of receiving counsel with respect: a ruler listens, acknowledges merit through honor, and only then responds. It models restraint and decorum in deliberation—speech is to be met with attentive hearing and appropriate recognition before action or reply.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Dhṛtarāṣṭra hears Karna’s words, praises him, and then begins to speak in reply. The verse functions as a transition into Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s forthcoming statement, marking approval and setting a formal tone for the next exchange.