Shloka 43

Kubera’s Fivefold Nīti and Protection of the Pāṇḍavas (वैश्रवणोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

श्रोत्ररम्यान्‌ सुमधुराज्छब्दान्‌ खगमुखेरितान्‌ । सर्वर्तुफलभाराब्यान्‌ सर्वर्तुकुसुमोज्ज्वलान्‌

Transliteration

śrotraramyān sumadhurāc chabdān khagamukheritān | sarvartuphala-bhārāḍhyān sarvartukusumojjvalān ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dijo: «Se oían allí sonidos deleitosos al oído, notas dulcísimas, lanzadas desde los picos de las aves. El lugar estaba cargado de frutos en toda estación y resplandecía con flores en toda estación».

Word by Word

श्रोत्ररम्यान्pleasing to the ear

सुमधुरान्very sweet

शब्दान्sounds

खगमुखेरितान्uttered from birds' mouths (i.e., produced by birds)

सर्वर्तुफलभाराढ्यान्rich with loads of fruits in every season

सर्वर्तुकुसुमोज्ज्वलान्bright with blossoms in every season

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

birds (khagāḥ)

sweet sounds (śabdāḥ)

fruits (phalāni)

flowers (kusumāni)

all seasons (sarva-ṛtu)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harmony and abundance of the forest—sweet birdsong and perennial fruit and flowers—suggesting that even amid exile and hardship, nature can provide solace and a setting conducive to calmness and reflection.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana continues a descriptive passage in the Vana Parva, portraying a forest region as enchanting: birds produce melodious calls, and the landscape appears perpetually fruitful and in bloom across all seasons.