Shloka 29

Devanagari script

गायनाख्यानशीलाशक्ष नटवैतालिकास्तथा । स्तुवन्तस्तानुपातिष्ठन्‌ सूताश्च॒ सह मागधै:,गानेवाले, प्राचीन उपाख्यान सुनानेवाले, नट और वैतालिक सूत-मागध आदिके साथ उपस्थित हो पाण्डवोंकी स्तुति-प्रशंसा करने लगे

Transliteration

gāyanākhyānaśīlāś ca naṭavaitālikās tathā | stuvantas tān upātiṣṭhan sūtāś ca saha māgadhaiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Singers, reciters skilled in ancient tales, actors, and bards (vaitālikas), along with sūtas and māgadhas, gathered around them and began to praise the Pāṇḍavas with songs and eulogies—publicly affirming their worth and honor in a manner that upholds social esteem and righteous reputation.

Word by Word

गायनsinging

आख्यानnarration, tale

शीलाःhabitual, devoted (to)

अक्षाःdice (players) / gamblers

नटactors, performers

वैतालिकाःbards, panegyrists

तथाand also, likewise

स्तुवन्तःpraising

तान्them

उपातिष्ठन्they attended upon / stood by

सूताःcharioteers; bards

चand

सहtogether with

मागधैःwith Magadha bards/panegyrists

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pāṇḍavas

gāyanas (singers)

ākhyāna-śīlas (reciters of ancient narratives)

naṭas (actors)

vaitālikas (bards)

sūtas

māgadhas

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how rightful merit and dharmic stature are recognized and reinforced through public testimony—praise by bards and performers functions as a social validation of honor, lineage, and virtue, shaping communal memory and ethical reputation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Groups of professional performers—singers, storytellers, actors, and court bards—assemble with sūtas and māgadhas and begin eulogizing the Pāṇḍavas, surrounding them and offering laudatory songs and recitations.