Shloka 10

Nārada’s Exempla of Tapas and Assurance to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (नारदोपदेशः—तपःसिद्ध्युदाहरणम्)

Devanagari script

प्रभो! उन आश्रमोंमें जहाँ-तहाँ मृगोंके झुंड निर्भय एवं शान्तचित्त होकर आरामसे बैठे थे। पक्षियोंके समुदाय नि:शंक होकर उच्च स्वरसे कलरव करते थे ।। केकाभिनीलकण्ठानां दात्यूहानां च कूजितै: । कोकिलानां कुहुरवै: सुखै: श्रुतिमनोहरै:,मोरोंके मधुर केकारव, दात्यूह नामक पक्षियोंके कल-कूजन और कोयलोंकी कुहू-कुहू ध्वनि हो रही थी। उनके शब्द बड़े ही सुखद तथा कानों और मनको हर लेनेवाले थे। कहीं- कहीं स्वाध्यायशील ब्राह्मणोंके वेद-मन्त्रोंका गम्भीर घोष गूँज रहा था और इन सबके कारण उन आश्रमोंकी शोभा बहुत बढ़ गयी थी एवं वह आश्रम फल-मूलका आहार करनेवाले महापुरुषोंसे सुशोभित हो रहा था

Transliteration

Vaśampāyana uvāca: prabho! teṣv āśrameṣu yatra-tatra mṛgāṇāṃ jhaṇḍāni nirbhayāni śāntacittāni ca viśrāntāni āsan; pakṣi-saṃghāś ca niḥśaṅkāḥ uccaiḥ svaraiḥ kalaravaṃ kurvanti sma. kekābhi-nīlakaṇṭhānāṃ mayūrāṇāṃ madhuraiḥ kekāravaiḥ, dātyūhānāṃ ca kūjitaiḥ, kokilānāṃ kuhūravaiḥ—sukhaiḥ śruti-mano-haraiḥ—sarvatra dhvaniḥ pravartate sma; kvacit svādhyāya-śīlānāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ veda-mantrāṇāṃ gambhīra-ghoṣaḥ pratidhvanati sma; etaiḥ sarvaiḥ kāraṇaiḥ teṣām āśramāṇāṃ śobhā vardhitā, phala-mūlāhārair mahāpuruṣaiś ca te āśramāḥ suśobhitāḥ.

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O lord, in those hermitages, herds of deer sat here and there—fearless, calm-minded, and at ease. Flocks of birds, unafraid, filled the air with loud calls. The sweet cries of peacocks with dark-blue throats, the gentle cooing of the dātyūha birds, and the cuckoos’ ‘kuhū-kuhū’ sounded everywhere—pleasant, and captivating to ear and mind. In some places the deep resonance of Vedic mantras, recited by brāhmaṇas devoted to daily study, echoed forth. By all these sounds the beauty of the hermitages was greatly enhanced, and the āśramas shone with great souls who lived on fruits and roots.”

Word by Word

• केकाभिनीलकण्ठानाम्: of the peacocks with dark-blue necks (and ke-kā cry)
• केकाभिनीलकण्ठानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: केकाभि-नीलकण्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• दात्यूहानाम्: of the dātyūha birds
• दात्यूहानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: दात्यूह
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कूजितैः: by/with the cooings (chirpings)
• कूजितैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूजित
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• कोकिलानाम्: of the cuckoos
• कोकिलानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोकिल
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• कुहुरवैः: by/with the ‘kuhu’ sounds
• कुहुरवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुहुरव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सुखैः: pleasant (as sounds)
• सुखैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• श्रुतिमनोहरैः: delighting the ear and the mind
• श्रुतिमनोहरैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति-मनॊहर
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• āśrama (forest hermitages)
• mṛga (deer)
• mayūra (peacocks)
• dātyūha (water-birds)
• kokila (cuckoos)
• brāhmaṇas devoted to svādhyāya
• Vedic mantras (veda-mantrāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical ideal of āśrama-dharma: a life of restraint, study, and non-violence that creates an atmosphere where even wild creatures feel safe. The harmony of nature and Vedic recitation symbolizes inner peace and disciplined living after the turmoil of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the forest hermitages: deer resting without fear, birds calling freely, and the soundscape filled with peacocks, dātyūhas, cuckoos, and the deep chanting of Vedic mantras by brāhmaṇas devoted to daily recitation. The āśramas are portrayed as radiant with ascetics living on fruits and roots.