Shloka 48

Jarāsandha–Bhīma Niyuddha-prastāvaḥ

Commencement of the Regulated Duel

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ते ततः कृष्ण: प्रत्युवाच महामना: । स्निग्धगम्भीरया वाचा वाक्यं वाक्यविशारद:,जरासंधके ऐसा कहनेपर बोलनेमें चतुर महामना श्रीकृष्ण स्निग्ध एवं गम्भीर वाणीमें इस प्रकार बोले

Transliteration

evam ukte tataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ pratyuvāca mahāmanāḥ | snigdha-gambhīrayā vācā vākyaṁ vākya-viśāradaḥ ||

Translation

When this had been said, the noble-minded Kṛṣṇa—skilled in apt and discerning speech—replied in a voice that was both affectionate and grave.

Word by Word

एवम्thus

उक्तेwhen (it was) said

ततःthen/thereupon

कृष्णःKrishna

प्रत्युवाचreplied/answered

महामनाःthe great-souled

स्निग्धगम्भीरयाwith a gentle and deep

वाचाspeech/voice

वाक्यम्words/sentence

वाक्यविशारदःskilled in speech

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Kṛṣṇa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical power of speech: a wise leader responds with words that are both compassionate (snigdha) and serious (gambhīra), indicating self-control, discernment, and responsibility in counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

After someone has spoken, the narrator (Vaiśampāyana) reports that Kṛṣṇa now answers. The verse functions as a transition into Kṛṣṇa’s considered reply, emphasizing his mastery of appropriate speech before the ensuing decision or strategy.