Shloka 54

Devanagari script

तृणानि भूमिरुदकं वाक्‌ चतुर्थी च सूनूता । सतामेतानि गेहेषु नोच्छिद्यन्ते कदाचन,आसनके लिये तृण (कुश), बैठनेके लिये स्थान, जल और चौथी मधुर वाणी, सत्पुरुषोंके घरमें इन चार वस्तुओंका अभाव कभी नहीं होता

Transliteration

tṛṇāni bhūmir udakaṃ vāk caturthī ca sūnṛtā | satām etāni geheṣu nocchidyante kadācana ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Grass for a seat, a place to sit upon, water, and—fourth—gentle, truthful speech: in the homes of the virtuous these four are never lacking at any time.”

Word by Word

तृणानिgrass (blades of grass)

भूमिःground, earth (a place to sit)

उदकम्water

वाक्speech, words

चतुर्थीthe fourth (item)

चand

सूनृताkind/pleasant speech, gentle words

सताम्of the good (people)

एतानिthese

गेहेषुin (their) houses

नnot

उच्छिद्यन्तेare cut off / fail / are lacking

कदाचनever, at any time

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

tṛṇa (kuśa grass)

bhūmi (ground/seat-space)

udaka (water)

vāk (speech)

sūnṛtā (gentle truthful speech)

sat (the virtuous)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True nobility is shown through simple, unfailing hospitality: even without wealth, a virtuous household offers a seat (grass/space), water, and respectful truthful speech—basic human dignity given to any guest.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Vana Parva context, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a dharmic standard of conduct, emphasizing that the hallmark of the good is not luxury but the constant availability of basic welcome and courteous truth in their homes.