Shloka 41

Devanagari script

ततो हि वदतां तेषामश्रौष्म विपुलं ध्वनिम्‌

Transliteration

tato hi vadatāṁ teṣām aśrauṣma vipulaṁ dhvanim

Translation

Then, as those people were speaking, we heard a great, swelling sound—an audible sign that their words had stirred a powerful commotion.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereupon; then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from that/thereupon')

• हि: indeed; for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि
• Form: Avyaya (particle)

• वदताम्: of (them) speaking
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), genitive plural (m./n.): 'of (those) speaking'

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, genitive plural

• अश्रौष्म: we heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 1st person plural, parasmaipada: 'we heard'

• विपुलम्: great; loud; extensive
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल
• Form: Neuter, accusative singular

• ध्वनिम्: sound; noise
• ध्वनिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वनि
• Form: Masculine, accusative singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• unspecified speakers (teṣām)
• a great sound/noise (vipula dhvani)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how speech can generate tangible effects in the world: words and discussion are not inert, but can culminate in a powerful collective response, symbolized by the ‘great sound’ that is heard.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma reports that while certain people were speaking, he and others heard a loud, expansive noise—suggesting a sudden commotion, reaction, or significant development accompanying their conversation.