Shloka 13

Vyāsa’s Consolation to Yudhiṣṭhira: Tapas, Kāla, and the Difficulty of Dāna (दान-तपस्-विवेकः)

Devanagari script

त एवमुक्ता गन्धर्वा: पाण्डवेन यशस्विना । उत्स्मयन्तस्तदा पार्थमिदं वचनमन्नुवन्‌,यशस्वी पाण्डुनन्दन अर्जुनके ऐसा कहनेपर गन्धर्वोने मुसकराकर उनसे इस प्रकार कहा--

Transliteration

ta evamuktā gandharvāḥ pāṇḍavena yaśasvinā | utsmayantas tadā pārtham idaṁ vacanam anuvann ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Thus addressed by the illustrious Pāṇḍava, the Gandharvas smiled at Pārtha (Arjuna) and then replied to him with these words. The scene underscores a courteous yet subtly testing exchange, where celestial beings respond with measured amusement to a human hero’s speech.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्ताः: having been addressed / spoken to
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, kta (past passive participle)

• गन्धर्वाः: Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पाण्डवेन: by the Pandava
• पाण्डवेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• यशस्विना: famous, illustrious
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• उत्स्मयन्तः: smiling (broadly)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, śatṛ (present active participle), उत्

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• पार्थम्: to Partha (Arjuna)
• पार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• अनुवन्: they said / spoke (in reply)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada, अनु

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Gandharvas
• Pāṇḍava
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Pāṇḍu

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined speech and social-ethical decorum: even powerful beings respond with restraint and a composed smile, suggesting that reputation (yaśas) and dialogue etiquette shape how words are received and answered.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Arjuna (the renowned Pāṇḍava) speaks, the Gandharvas smile and begin their reply. The verse functions as a narrative hinge introducing the Gandharvas’ forthcoming statement.