Shloka 14

Duryodhana-patana-anuśocana

The Fall of Duryodhana and the Contest of Restraint

Devanagari script

अपि चोशनसा गीत: श्रूयते5यं पुरातन: । श्लोकस्तत्त्वार्थसहितस्तन्मे निगदत: शृणु,दुर्योधन युद्धकी कला जानता है, वीर है और एक निश्चयपर डटा हुआ है। इस विषयमें शुक्राचार्यका कहा हुआ यह एक प्राचीन श्लोक सुननेमें आता है, जो नीतिशास्त्रके तात््विक अर्थसे भरा हुआ है उसे सुना रहा हूँ, मेरे कहनेसे वह श्लोक सुनो

Transliteration

api cośanasā gītaḥ śrūyate ’yaṃ purātanaḥ | ślokas tattvārthasahitas tan me nigadataḥ śṛṇu |

Translation

Vāyu said: “Moreover, an ancient verse composed by Uśanas (Śukrācārya) is heard of. It is a śloka rich with the essential meaning of true principles. Listen as I recite it—hear it from my words.”

Word by Word

[{'term''api ca', 'definition': 'moreover

and further'}, {'term''Uśanasā (ośanasā)', 'definition': 'by Uśanas

a name of Śukra/Śukrācārya, preceptor of the Asuras and authority on polity/ethics'}, {'term''gītaḥ', 'definition': 'sung

uttered'}, {'term''śrūyate', 'definition': 'is heard

is traditionally reported'}, {'term''ayam', 'definition': 'this'}, {'term': 'purātanaḥ', 'definition': 'ancient

of old tradition'}, {'term''ślokaḥ', 'definition': 'a verse

metrical saying'}, {'term''tattvārtha', 'definition': 'the essential/true meaning

principle-based import'}, {'term''sahitaḥ', 'definition': 'endowed with

accompanied by'}, {'term''tan me', 'definition': 'that—of/for me

here“that (verse), from me”'}, {'term': 'nigadataḥ', 'definition': 'as (I am) declaring/reciting'}, {'term': 'śṛṇu', 'definition': 'listen

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

व

वायुदेव (Vāyu)

उ

उशनस् / शुक्राचार्य (Uśanas / Śukrācārya)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames ethical instruction as grounded in authoritative tradition: Vāyu introduces a time-honored maxim of Uśanas, emphasizing that it carries tattva—principled, essential meaning—so it should be listened to carefully as guidance for conduct and judgment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu, as the speaker, pauses the immediate discussion to cite an ancient śloka attributed to Uśanas (Śukrācārya). This line functions as a preface: he signals that a significant, principle-laden verse is about to be recited to the listener(s) in the war-time setting of Śalya Parva.