Shloka 9

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्त्वा दुःखशोकार्त: शुचिर्धर्मसुतस्तदा । सम्मूर्छितो5भवद्‌ राजा साश्रुकण्ठो युधिछ्िर:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! ऐसा कहकर पवित्र अन्तःकरणवाले धर्मनन्दन राजा युधिष्ठिर दु:ख और शोकसे आतुर होकर मूर्च्छित हो गये। उनके नेत्रोंसे आँसुओंकी धारा बह रही थी और कण्ठ अवरुद्ध हो गया था

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | ity uktvā duḥkhaśokārtaḥ śucir dharmasutas tadā | sammūrcchito 'bhavad rājā sāśrukaṇṭho yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Having spoken thus, the pure-hearted son of Dharma, King Yudhiṣṭhira, overwhelmed by grief and sorrow, then fainted. His throat choked with tears, he was unable to speak—his anguish revealing the ethical weight he bore and the depth of his compassion.

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaiśampāyana

उवाचsaid

इतिthus

उक्त्वाhaving said

दुःखwith sorrow

शोकwith grief

आर्तःafflicted

शुचिःpure

धर्मसुतःson of Dharma (Yudhiṣṭhira)

तदाthen

सम्मूर्छितःfainted, became unconscious

अभवत्became

राजाthe king

सhe

अश्रुwith tears

कण्ठःthroat

युधिष्ठिरःYudhiṣṭhira

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Janamejaya

Yudhiṣṭhira

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical sensitivity expected of a dhārmic ruler: true righteousness is not cold detachment but a conscience that feels the weight of suffering. Yudhiṣṭhira’s collapse shows how moral responsibility and compassion can overwhelm even a king.

What is happening in the narrative?

Within Vaiśampāyana’s narration to King Janamejaya, Yudhiṣṭhira—after speaking—becomes overcome by grief and sorrow, his voice choked with tears, and he faints.