Shloka 42

Kubera’s Fivefold Nīti and Protection of the Pāṇḍavas (वैश्रवणोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

द्रौोपदीसहिता वीरास्तैश्न विप्रैर्महात्मभि: । शृण्वन्त: प्रीतिजननान्‌ वल्गूनू मदकलाउछुभान्‌

Transliteration

draūpadī-sahitā vīrās taiś ca viprair mahātmabhiḥ | śṛṇvantaḥ prīti-jananān valgūn madakālān subhān ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「勇士たちはドラウパディーを伴い、また大徳のバラモンたちに随行されて、心を喜ばせる言葉に耳を傾けた。しなやかで、声は甘く、吉祥を帯び、穏やかな調べで語られて、精神を和ませたのである。」

Word by Word

द्रौपदी-सहिताaccompanied by Draupadī

वीराःheroes

तैःby/with those

विप्रैःby/with the brāhmaṇas

महात्मभिःby/with the great-souled ones

शृण्वन्तःhearing, listening

प्रीति-जननान्producing delight

वल्गूनिcharming, pleasing

मद-काल-उत्सुभान्exciting (as) at the time of intoxication/rapture

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

व

वैशम्पायन (Vaiśampāyana)

द

द्रौपदी (Draupadī)

व

वीराः (the heroes/warriors, i.e., the Pāṇḍavas in context)

व

विप्राः (brāhmaṇas)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic value of attentive listening to noble, auspicious speech in the company of the wise. Such words—gentle, well-measured, and uplifting—steady the mind and support right conduct, especially during hardship.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the forest-exile setting, the heroes along with Draupadī are in the presence of great-souled brāhmaṇas. They listen to pleasing and auspicious discourse, suggesting counsel, recitation, or consoling instruction that strengthens them.