Shloka 10

Devanagari script

सुकृतस्य हि सान्त्वस्य श्लक्षणस्थ मधुरस्य च । सम्यगासेव्यमानस्य तुल्यं जातु न विद्यते,यदि अच्छी तरहसे सान्त्वनापूर्ण, मधुर एवं स्नेहयुक्त वचन बोला जाय और सदा सब प्रकारसे उसीका सेवन किया जाय तो उसके समान वशीकरणका साधन इस जगत्‌में नि:संदेह दूसरा कोई नहीं है

Transliteration

sukṛtasya hi sāntvasya ślakṣṇasya madhurasya ca | samyag āsevyamānasya tulyaṃ jātu na vidyate ||

Translation

Dijo Śakra: «De las palabras de consuelo bien intencionadas—suaves, pulidas y dulces—cuando se practican rectamente y se emplean con constancia, no hay en el mundo nada que les sea igual como medio para ganar a los demás. Tal habla, fundada en la buena voluntad, se vuelve el instrumento supremo para llevar los corazones a la armonía antes que a la fuerza.»

Word by Word

सुकृतस्यof the well-done / well-performed (speech/act)

हिindeed, for

सान्त्वस्यof consolation / soothing speech

श्लक्षणस्थabiding in gentleness; gentle

मधुरस्यof sweet (speech)

चand

सम्यक्properly, well

आसेव्यमानस्यof (that) being practiced/used/served

तुल्यम्equal (thing)

जातुever, at any time

नnot

विद्यतेexists, is found

यदिif

Speaker

शक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śakra (Indra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Properly spoken and consistently practiced consoling, gentle, sweet speech is an unmatched means of influencing others; ethical persuasion through kindness surpasses coercion.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Śakra (Indra) offers a maxim on the power of sāntva—reassuring, affectionate speech—as a practical tool for harmony and effective leadership.