Shloka 21

Rāmopākhyāna—Rāma–Sītā Origins and the Opening of Rāvaṇa’s Genealogy

Devanagari script

पाण्डवाश्न महेष्वासा दूतवाक्यप्रचोदिता: । चिन्तयन्तस्तमेवार्थ नालभन्त सुखं क्वचित्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | pāṇḍavāś ca mahēṣvāsā dūtavākya-pracoditāḥ | cintayantas tam evārtham nālabhanta sukhaṃ kvacit ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「パーンダヴァたち――大弓の使い手――は使者の言葉に駆り立てられ、その事のみを思い巡らし、どこにあっても安らぎを得ることができなかった。」

Word by Word

• पाण्डवाः: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महेष्वासाः: great archers (lit. those having great bows)
• महेष्वासाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• दूतवाक्यप्रचोदिताः: urged/provoked by the messenger's words
• दूतवाक्यप्रचोदिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूतवाक्यप्रचोदित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• चिन्तयन्तः: thinking, pondering
• चिन्तयन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त्
• Form: Present (Shatru participle), Plural, Masculine, Nominative

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अर्थम्: matter, purpose, meaning
• अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अलभन्त: they obtained, they found
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• सुखम्: happiness, ease
• सुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• क्वचित्: anywhere, at any time
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित्

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍavas
• dūta (messenger/envoy)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when one is strong and righteous, difficult duties and consequential messages can disturb inner peace; ethical action often requires sustained reflection, not impulsive reaction.

What is happening in the narrative?

After receiving an envoy’s message, the Pāṇḍavas—renowned warriors—brood over the issue it raises and are unable to feel comfort, indicating the gravity of the decision before them.