Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

स तद्‌ वचनमाज्ञाय राज्ञो ब्राह्मणसत्तम:

Transliteration

sa tad vacanam ājñāya rājño brāhmaṇasattamaḥ

Translation

राजाची आज्ञा समजून तो ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ (कृप) हात जोडून त्वरितच तसेच करण्यास सिद्ध झाला.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वचनम्: speech; words; command
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आज्ञाय: having understood
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (अव्ययभाव/gerund), कर्तरि, having known/understood

• राज्ञः: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणसत्तमः: the best of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणसत्तमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मणसत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• the king (rājā)
• the foremost Brahmin (brāhmaṇasattama)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined responsiveness to rightful instruction: once a directive is clearly understood, one should act without confusion or delay—an ethical ideal especially emphasized in tense, consequential situations like war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a leading Brahmin, having grasped the king’s words, is poised to carry out what the king has said, marking a transition from counsel or command to execution.