Shloka 58

Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha

Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context

Devanagari script

देवलस्तु वच: श्रुत्वा भूतानां करुणं तथा

Transliteration

devalas tu vacaḥ śrutvā bhūtānāṃ karuṇaṃ tathā

Translation

ಸರ್ವಭೂತಗಳ ಪರವಾಗಿ ಉಚ್ಚರಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ಆ ಕರುಣ ವಚನಗಳನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿ ದೇವಲನು ಸಹ ದ್ರವಿಸಿದನು; ಘಟನೆಗಳ ಕಠೋರತೆಯ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಕರುಣಾಧರ್ಮದ ಭಾರವನ್ನು ಅರಿತನು।

Word by Word

• देवलः: Devala (proper name)
• देवलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• भूतानाम्: of beings/creatures
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• करुणम्: compassionate/piteous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तथा: thus/so/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Devala
• bhūtāni (living beings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds karuṇā (compassion) as a dharmic value: speech that considers the suffering of all beings carries ethical force and can redirect judgment even in severe circumstances.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator reports Devala’s response: he hears a compassionate appeal concerning living beings and is affected by it, setting up his ensuing reaction or counsel in the surrounding passage.