Shloka 39

Devanagari script

स तद्‌ वचनमाज्ञाय राज्ञो ब्राह्मणसत्तम:

Transliteration

sa tad vacanam ājñāya rājño brāhmaṇasattamaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Having understood the king’s instruction, the foremost of Brahmins prepared to act in accordance with it—signaling prompt obedience to royal command and the weight such directives carry amid the moral strain of war.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वचनम्: speech; words; command
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आज्ञाय: having understood
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (अव्ययभाव/gerund), कर्तरि, having known/understood

• राज्ञः: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणसत्तमः: the best of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणसत्तमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मणसत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• the king (rājā)
• the foremost Brahmin (brāhmaṇasattama)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined responsiveness to rightful instruction: once a directive is clearly understood, one should act without confusion or delay—an ethical ideal especially emphasized in tense, consequential situations like war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a leading Brahmin, having grasped the king’s words, is poised to carry out what the king has said, marking a transition from counsel or command to execution.