Shloka 28
शान्ति पर्व (अध्याय 38): युधिष्ठिरस्य राजधर्म-जिज्ञासा तथा भीष्मोपसर्पण-प्रस्तावना | Shanti Parva Chapter 38: Yudhishthira’s Inquiry into Rajadharma and the Prelude to Approaching Bhishma
इति ते वै द्विजा: श्रुत्वा तस्य दुष्टस्य रक्षस: । विव्यथुश्रुक्रुशुश्वेव तस्य वाक्यप्रधर्षिता:,वे ब्राह्मण उस दुष्ट राक्षणषकी यह बात सुनकर उसके वचनोंसे तिरस्कृत हो व्यथित हो उठे और मन-ही-मन उसके कथनकी निन्दा करने लगे
iti te vai dvijāḥ śrutvā tasya duṣṭasya rakṣasaḥ | vivyathuḥ śukruśuś caiva tasya vākyapradharṣitāḥ ||
Als die Brahmanen die Worte jenes bösen Rākṣasa hörten, wurden sie von Kummer erschüttert; von seiner Rede getroffen und beleidigt, riefen sie laut auf und verurteilten seine Äußerung im Innern.
चारवक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech: malicious, insulting words can wound a community and provoke moral outrage. It also frames slander against dharma and respected persons as a disruptive force that must be recognized and rejected.
After Cārvāka (in rākṣasa guise) speaks harshly, the assembled brāhmaṇas hear him and react with shock and distress. Feeling attacked by his words, they cry out and mentally condemn his statement, setting the stage for his exposure and repudiation.