Shloka 24

ययाति–शक्रसंवादः

Speech-Ethics and Forbearance in the Celestial Court

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तस्तु राजा स तथ्यमित्यभिजज्ञिवान्‌ पूजयामास शर्मिष्ठां धर्म च प्रत्यपादयत्‌,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--शर्मिष्ठके ऐसा कहनेपर राजाने उसकी बातोंको ठीक समझा। उन्होंने शर्मिष्ठाका सत्कार किया और धर्मानुसार उसे अपनी भार्या बनाया

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: evam uktas tu rājā sa tathyam ity abhijajñivān | pūjayāmāsa śarmiṣṭhāṃ dharmaṃ ca pratyapādayat ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: «So angesprochen erkannte der König ihre Worte als wahr. Er erwies Śarmiṣṭhā Ehre und nahm sie gemäß dem Dharma zur Gemahlin.»

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaiśampāyana

उवाचsaid

एवम्thus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to / addressed

तुbut/indeed

राजाthe king

सःhe

तथ्यम्truth / true (as a fact)

इतिthus (quotative)

अभिजज्ञिवान्having recognized/understood

पूजयामासhonored / paid respect to

शर्मिष्ठाम्Śarmiṣṭhā

धर्मम्dharma / rightful conduct

चand

प्रत्यपादयत्bestowed/assigned (in accordance with)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Śarmiṣṭhā

the king (rājā)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as the proper framework for action: recognizing truth, honoring the deserving, and formalizing relationships through lawful, socially responsible conduct rather than mere desire or convenience.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing Śarmiṣṭhā’s statement, the king accepts it as true, treats her with respect, and then, following dharma, takes steps to establish her as his wife.