Shloka 18

Devanagari script

ततोअब्रवीद्‌ धर्मसुतो रोहिणेयमरिंदमम्‌

Transliteration

tato 'bravīd dharmasuto rohiṇeyam ariṃdamam

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then the son of Dharma (Yudhiṣṭhira) spoke to Rohiṇeya (Balarāma), the subduer of foes—amid the war’s grave moral pressure, seeking counsel and direction as calamity unfolded.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततस्
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb)

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• धर्मसुतः: the son of Dharma (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• धर्मसुतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मसुत
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• रोहिणेयम्: Rohiṇeya (Balarāma)
• रोहिणेयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहिणेय
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• अरिंदमम्: foe-subduing, crusher of enemies
• अरिंदमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmasuta)
• Balarāma (Rohiṇeya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds dharmic leadership under crisis: Yudhiṣṭhira, marked as ‘Dharmasuta’, turns to a revered elder-warrior (Balarāma) for guidance, suggesting that righteous action in war requires counsel, restraint, and accountability rather than mere force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a transition in the scene: after preceding events, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Balarāma (Rohiṇeya), introducing a speech or request that follows in subsequent verses.