Shloka 23

Devanagari script

ततोअब्रवीद्‌ रोहिणेयो नारदं दीनया गिरा

Transliteration

tato 'bravīd rohiṇeyo nāradaṁ dīnayā girā

Translation

Then Rohiṇeya spoke to Nārada in a sorrowful voice, signaling a turn in the narrative where grief and moral reflection press upon the speaker and invite counsel from a revered sage.

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from that/then')

• अब्रवीत्: said; spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• रोहिणेयः: Rohineya (Balarama)
• रोहिणेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहिणेय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नारदम्: Narada
• नारदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दीनया: with a dejected/sorrowful
• दीनया: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (विशेषणम्)

• गिरा: speech; voice; words
• गिरा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर्
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Rohiṇeya
• Nārada
• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical moment: sorrow prompts speech, and speech seeks guidance. It highlights the Mahābhārata’s recurring principle that in distress one should turn to wise counsel, allowing grief to become a doorway to discernment rather than despair.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Rohiṇeya addresses the sage Nārada, speaking in a dejected tone—an introductory transition indicating that a lament, confession, or request for instruction is about to follow.