Shloka 23

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्‌ वचन श्रुत्वा भारद्वाजो हसन्निव

Transliteration

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā bhāradvājo hasann iva

Translation

Sañjaya said: Hearing those words of his, Bhāradvāja seemed to smile—an expression suggesting restrained amusement or knowing irony amid the grave circumstances.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वचनम्: speech/statement/words
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here), Non-finite

• भारद्वाजः: Bhāradvāja
• भारद्वाजः: Karta
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: भारद्वाज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हसन्: laughing
• हसन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhāradvāja

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how a measured reaction—here, a restrained, knowing smile—can convey judgment, irony, or insight without escalating conflict, reminding readers that inner discernment often shows through subtle outward signs even in morally tense situations.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that after hearing someone’s statement, Bhāradvāja (a name associated with the sage/patronymic) appears to smile, indicating his response to the remark—possibly amusement, skepticism, or recognition—within the unfolding events of the Drona Parva.