Shloka 10

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरस्तु तान्‌ विप्रान्‌ प्रत्युवाच महामना:

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhiras tu tān viprān pratyuvāca mahāmanāḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Then the noble-minded Yudhiṣṭhira replied to those brāhmaṇa sages—responding with the measured dignity and ethical responsibility expected of a righteous king.

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विप्रान्: brāhmaṇas/learned priests
• विप्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्रत्युवाच: replied/answered
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उप-√वच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महामना: great-souled
• महामना: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामनस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• viprāḥ (brāhmaṇas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ideal of dhārmic kingship: a ruler should respond to learned brāhmaṇas with humility, restraint, and moral seriousness, treating counsel and questioning as occasions for ethical clarity rather than mere authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a transition: Yudhiṣṭhira, described as noble-minded, begins his reply to a group of brāhmaṇas. The verse functions as a framing line introducing Yudhiṣṭhira’s forthcoming speech.