Shloka 148

Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout

Devanagari script

तावथाचख्यतुस्तस्मै प्रियं प्रियकरी तदा

Transliteration

tāvathācakhyatus tasmai priyaṃ priyakarī tadā

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then, at that moment, they reported to him what was pleasing—words and tidings meant to gratify him, shaping the message to his liking rather than to sober truth.

Word by Word

• तावत्: then/so long; thereupon
• तावत्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत्
• Form: indeclinable (temporal/quantitative adverb)

• अचख्यतुः: the two told/declared
• अचख्यतुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चक्ष्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, dual, parasmaipada

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, dative, singular

• प्रियम्: a pleasing thing; what is dear
• प्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• प्रियकरी: pleasing; one who does what is dear
• प्रियकरी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रियकरिन्
• Form: feminine, nominative, singular

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा
• Form: indeclinable (temporal adverb)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• unnamed dual speakers (two persons)
• unnamed recipient (him)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights an ethical tension in speech: conveying what is merely pleasing (priyam) and designed to gratify (priyakarī) can drift away from truthful, responsible communication—especially in a war’s aftermath where consequences are grave.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Sañjaya’s narration, two individuals (implied by the dual verb ācakhyatuḥ) deliver a report to a certain person, choosing to present agreeable, pleasing information at that moment.