Shloka 18

यज्ञवाटवैभववर्णनम् / Description of the Splendour of the Sacrificial Enclosure

Devanagari script

तत्र हर्षकरी वाचो नराणां शुश्रुवे&र्जुन:

Transliteration

tatra harṣakarī vāco narāṇāṃ śuśruve ’rjunaḥ

Translation

There, Arjuna heard among the people words that brought joy—utterances of relief and gladness amid the unfolding events, reflecting the community’s hopeful response to what was taking place.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb of place)

• हर्षकरीः: joy-producing
• हर्षकरीः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्षकर (हर्ष + कर)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• वाचः: words/speeches
• वाचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• नराणाम्: of men/people
• नराणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• शुश्रुवे: heard
• शुश्रुवे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

युधिष्ठिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• people (narāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how righteous action and orderly governance are reflected in the morale of the people: speech that is “harṣakarī” suggests a social atmosphere of reassurance and auspicious approval, implying that dharmic outcomes are not only personal but also communal.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Yudhiṣṭhira’s narration, Arjuna arrives at a particular scene and hears the people speaking in a joyful, heartening manner—an audible sign that the situation is turning favorable or is being received positively by the community.