Shloka 31

Duryodhana’s Post-Duel Lament and Instructions (भग्नसक्थस्य विलापः)

Devanagari script

केशवस्य वच: श्र॒ुत्वा त्वमाणो5थ दारुक:

Transliteration

keśavasya vacaḥ śrutvā tvamāṇo ’tha dārukaḥ

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana sprach: Als Dāruka Keśavas Worte vernommen hatte, eilte er sogleich davon—den Befehl mit disziplinierter Dringlichkeit ausführend, wie es einem dem Dienst ergebenen Wagenlenker im Druck des Krieges geziemt.

Word by Word

• केशवस्य: of Keshava (Krishna)
• केशवस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव
• 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: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• त्वमाणः: hastening / moving quickly
• त्वमाणः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्वम् (धातु: त्वम्/त्वमँ)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• दारुकः: Daruka (Krishna's charioteer)
• दारुकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारुक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)
• Dāruka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined responsiveness to rightful instruction: Dāruka’s immediate action after hearing Keśava reflects dharma as prompt, faithful service—especially crucial in the moral and practical urgency of wartime.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Dāruka, upon hearing Keśava’s instruction, quickly sets about executing it, indicating a transition from counsel/command to swift action within the Shalya Parva war narrative.