Shloka 78
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
युलभोवाच नवभिरन्नवश्िश्वैव दोषैर्वग्बुद्धिदूषणै: । अपेतमुपपन्नार्थमष्टादशगुणान्वितम्
sulabhovāca navabhir annaiva doṣair vāgbuddhidūṣaṇaiḥ | apetam upapannārtham aṣṭādaśaguṇānvitam ||
सुलभा बोली—राजन्! वाणी और बुद्धि को दूषित करने वाले नौ-नौ दोषों से रहित, युक्तिसंगत और सुव्यवस्थित अर्थ से युक्त, तथा अठारह गुणों से सम्पन्न पदसमूह को ‘वाक्य’ कहते हैं।
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sulabhā defines what counts as a proper, ethical, and intellectually sound statement: it must avoid faults that distort speech and understanding, possess recognized virtues, convey a coherent meaning, and include subtle precision, analytical clarity, orderly progression, definite conclusion, and a clear purpose.
In the Sulabhā–Janaka dialogue within the Śānti Parva, Sulabhā instructs the king on standards of correct discourse, setting criteria for meaningful speech as part of a broader philosophical exchange on wisdom and conduct.