Mahabharata 1.201.22 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 201, Shloka 22

Sundopasundayoḥ Tapas–Varadāna–Prasaṅgaḥ

Sunda and Upasunda: Austerities and the Boon

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच श्रुत्वा तु राधेयवचो धृतराष्ट्र: प्रतापवान्‌ | अभिपूज्य तत: पश्चादिदं वचनमब्रवीत्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca

śrutvā tu rādheyavaco dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ pratāpavān |

abhipūjya tataḥ paścād idaṁ vacanam abravīt ||

Translation

वैशंपायन म्हणाले—जनमेजया! राधेय (कर्ण) याचे बोल ऐकून प्रतापी धृतराष्ट्राने त्याचा यथोचित सन्मान करून प्रशंसा केली; आणि त्यानंतर तो असे बोलला.

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active, true

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

• राधेय-वचः: the words of Rādheya (Karna)
• राधेय-वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधेय-वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धृतराष्ट्रः: Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• धृतराष्ट्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतापवान्: mighty, valorous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतापवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभिपूज्य: having honored/praised
• अभिपूज्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-पूज्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active, true

• ततः: then/from that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: true

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात्
• Form: true

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वचनम्: speech, statement
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Rādheya (Karna)
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and political importance of receiving counsel with respect: a ruler listens, acknowledges merit through honor, and only then responds. It models restraint and decorum in deliberation—speech is to be met with attentive hearing and appropriate recognition before action or reply.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Dhṛtarāṣṭra hears Karna’s words, praises him, and then begins to speak in reply. The verse functions as a transition into Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s forthcoming statement, marking approval and setting a formal tone for the next exchange.