Mahabharata 9.53.12 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 53, Shloka 12

Plakṣaprasravaṇa–Kārapacana tīrtha-varṇana and Nārada’s war briefing (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 53)

Devanagari script

आगम्य च तत: शक्रस्तदा राजर्षिमब्रवीत्‌ । अलं खेदेन भवत: क्रियतां वचनं मम

Transliteration

āgamya ca tataḥ śakrastadā rājarṣimabravīt | alaṁ khedena bhavataḥ kriyatāṁ vacanaṁ mama ||

Translation

Then Śakra (Indra) arrived and addressed the royal sage: “Enough of your sorrow. Do as I ask.”

Word by Word

• आगम्य: having come
• आगम्य: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वान्त/absolutive), कर्तरि, —, —, —

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

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• राजर्षिम्: the royal sage
• राजर्षिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अलम्: enough (of)
• अलम्: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम्

• खेदेन: with grief/distress
• खेदेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेद
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• भवतः: of you/your
• भवतः: —
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• क्रियताम्: let it be done / please do
• क्रियताम्: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada (passive sense)

• वचनम्: the word/command
• वचनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मम: of me/my
• मम: —
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

राम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• rājarṣi (royal sage)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Grief should not become an excuse for inaction; when duty is clarified—especially through wise or divine counsel—one should steady the mind and carry out what is right.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra (Śakra) arrives and speaks to a royal sage, urging him to stop lamenting and to comply with Indra’s instruction/request, signaling a shift from sorrow to purposeful action.