Shloka 30

Duryodhana’s Post-Duel Lament and Instructions (भग्नसक्थस्य विलापः)

Devanagari script

धर्मराजस्य वचन श्र॒ुत्वा यदुकुलोद्वह:

Transliteration

dharmarājasya vacanaṁ śrutvā yadukulodvahaḥ

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Hearing the words of Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira), the foremost scion of the Yadu line replied—marking a turn, as counsel grounded in dharma was received amid the pressures of war and duty.

Word by Word

• धर्मराजस्य: of Dharmaraja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• धर्मराजस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वचनम्: speech; words
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• यदुकुलोद्वहः: the foremost of the Yadu clan
• यदुकुलोद्वहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदुकुलोद्वह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Yadukulodvaha (epithet; commonly Kṛṣṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of attentive listening to dharmic counsel: right action in crisis begins with receiving and considering the righteous king’s words before responding.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that after Dharmarāja speaks, the foremost Yādava—addressed by the epithet 'yadukulodvahaḥ'—hears him and is poised to reply, marking a transition from Yudhiṣṭhira’s counsel to the Yādava’s response.