Shloka 20

Devanagari script

इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य सो5थ तं वरुणो5ब्रवीत्‌

Transliteration

iti śrutvā vacas tasya so 'tha taṃ varuṇo 'bravīt

Translation

Nachdem er seine Worte vernommen hatte, erwiderte Varuṇa ihm.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• तस्य: of him/of that (person)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• वरुणः: Varuṇa
• वरुणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), past, 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Varuṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a basic ethical discipline of discourse: one should first listen fully (śrutvā) and only then respond (abravīt). This models measured speech grounded in understanding rather than impulse.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing the preceding speaker’s statement, Varuṇa replies, indicating a turn in the conversation where Varuṇa’s response will guide or judge the matter under discussion.