Shloka 40

Vyāsa’s Boon-Offer and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse in the Forest Assembly (आश्रमवासिक पर्व, अध्याय ३६)

Devanagari script

अन्तःपुराणां च तदा महानार्तस्वरो5भवत्‌

Transliteration

antaḥpurāṇāṁ ca tadā mahān ārta-svaro 'bhavat

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「そのとき、後宮の女たちの居所の内より、痛切な大いなる叫びが起こった。悲嘆の噴出であり、宮中の内なる家が突如として苦しみと喪失に直面したしるしであった。」

Word by Word

अन्तःपुराणाम्of the inner apartments (women's quarters)

चand

तदाthen

महान्great

आर्तस्वरःa cry of distress

अभवत्arose / occurred / was

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

antaḥpura (inner palace/women’s quarters)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how suffering is not confined to the battlefield or public sphere; it penetrates the private spaces of life as well, reminding the listener of impermanence and the ethical weight of actions whose consequences ripple through families and dependents.

What is happening in the narrative?

At this moment in the Ashramavāsika narrative, a sudden, intense wail rises from the inner apartments of the palace, indicating that the women of the household have been struck by distress—likely reacting to grave news or a calamity unfolding.