Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 58

Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda

Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity

Devanagari script

मध्ये त्रिदशवर्गस्य देवराज: शतक्रतुः । उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं बृहस्पतिमनुत्तमम्‌

Transliteration

madhye tridaśa-vargasya devarājaḥ śatakratuḥ | uvāca madhuraṃ vākyaṃ bṛhaspatim anuttamam ||

Translation

In the midst of the assembly of the gods, Śakra—Indra, the king of the devas famed for a hundred sacrifices—addressed the unsurpassed Bṛhaspati with gentle, pleasing words.

Word by Word

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• त्रिदशवर्गस्य: of the group of the thirty (gods)
• त्रिदशवर्गस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदशवर्ग
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• देवराजः: the king of the gods
• देवराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शतक्रतुः: Śatakratu (Indra; he of a hundred rites)
• शतक्रतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतक्रतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• मधुरम्: sweet, pleasant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वाक्यम्: words; a speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• बृहस्पतिम्: to Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed, excellent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

शक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Tridaśas (the gods)
• Bṛhaspati

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical communication and humility: even Indra, the lord of the gods, approaches the highest teacher (Bṛhaspati) with sweet and respectful speech, implying that authority should be guided by reverence for wisdom and disciplined words.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra (Śakra), seated among the gathered gods, begins speaking to Bṛhaspati. The verse functions as a narrative transition into counsel or instruction delivered in a formal assembly setting.