Shloka 22
उत्तरो बृहन्नडां सारथ्याय नियुङ्क्ते — Uttara Appoints Bṛhannadā as Charioteer
वैशमग्पायन उवाच स्त्रीमध्य उक्तस्तेनासौ तद् वाक्यमभयंकरम् । अन्त:पुरे श्लाघमान इदं वचनमत्रवीत्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन! उस समय राजकुमार उत्तर अन्तःपुरमें स्त्रियोंके बीचमें बैठा था। वहीं उस गोपाध्यक्षने उससे ये निर्भय बनानेवाली उत्साहजनक बातें कहीं। अतः वह अपनी प्रशंसा करता हुआ इस प्रकार कहने लगा
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca | strī-madhye uktas tenāsau tad vākyam abhayaṅkaram | antaḥpure ślāghamāna idaṃ vacanam abravīt |
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O King, at that time Prince Uttara was seated among the women in the inner apartments. There the cowherd-chief addressed him with words that dispelled fear and stirred courage. Then Uttara, praising himself, began to speak in this manner.”
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear can be countered through timely, confidence-giving counsel, while also hinting at an ethical contrast between mere self-praise (boasting) and genuine courage that will be tested by action.
In Virāṭa’s palace, Prince Uttara is sitting in the women’s quarters. A cowherd-chief (in context, a disguised figure connected with the Pāṇḍavas) speaks to him in a way that removes fear and encourages him. Prompted by this, Uttara begins speaking boastfully, setting up the next events.