Shloka 26

धृतराष्ट्रस्य सत्कारः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra Honored in the Post-war Court

Devanagari script

एवं ते धर्मराजस्य श्रुत्वा वचनमर्थवत्‌

Transliteration

evaṁ te dharmarājasya śrutvā vacanam arthavat

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “Having heard those meaningful words spoken by Dharmarāja, they responded in accordance with the weight of his counsel, recognizing the ethical gravity of his intent.”

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• ते: they (those people)
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: any, Nominative, Plural

• धर्मराजस्य: of Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

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

• वचनम्: speech, words, statement
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अर्थवत्: meaningful, significant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थवत्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical value of attentive listening to dharma-grounded counsel: words that are arthavat (purposeful and weighty) should be received seriously, shaping subsequent action and response.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a transition: after Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira) speaks meaningfully, the others—already in the scene—hear his statement, setting up their reaction and the next development in the Ashramavāsika episode.