Shloka 42
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 42 — Duryodhana’s counsel to Bhīṣma on ajñātavāsa risk and raid strategy
इति श्रीमहाभारते विराटपर्वणि गोहरणपर्वणि उत्तरवाक्यं नाम द्विचत्वारिंशो 5 ध्याय:,इस प्रकार श्रीमह्या भारत विराटपर्वके अन्तर्गत योहरणपर्वमें उत्तरवाक्यविषयक बयालीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
iti śrīmahābhārate virāṭaparvaṇi goharaṇaparvaṇi uttaravākyaṃ nāma dvi-catvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ |
अशा प्रकारे श्रीमहाभारताच्या विराटपर्वातील गोहरणपर्वात ‘उत्तरवाक्य’ नावाचा बेचाळीसावा अध्याय समाप्त झाला।
उत्तर उवाच
Educational Q&A
As a colophon, the verse primarily teaches textual awareness: it signals closure and situates the reader within the epic’s structure. Ethically, it highlights the importance of vākyam (speech/counsel) as a force that can guide conduct and decision-making in moments leading toward conflict.
This line is not a spoken dialogue verse but an editorial/narratorial closing formula. It announces that the forty-second chapter of Virāṭa Parva—within the cattle-raid episode—titled “Uttara’s Speech,” has ended.