Shloka 57

Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances

Devanagari script

शार्टूलस्य वच:ः श्रुत्वा शार्ट्लजननी ततः

Transliteration

śārṭūlasya vacaḥ śrutvā śārṭlajananī tataḥ

Translation

ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਸ਼ਾਰਟੂਲ ਦੇ ਬਚਨ ਸੁਣ ਕੇ, ਤਦ ਸ਼ਾਰਟੂਲ ਦੀ ਮਾਤਾ ਨੇ ਉੱਤਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ—ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਘਰ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਸੁਣੀ ਤੇ ਮੰਨੀ ਗਈ ਸਲਾਹ ਹੀ ਅਗਲੇ ਧਰਮ-ਫ਼ੈਸਲੇ ਅਤੇ ਕਰਮ ਦੀ ਨੀਂਹ ਬਣਦੀ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• शार्टूलस्य: of Śārṭūla
• शार्टूलस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्टूल
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

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

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• शार्टूलजननी: the mother of Śārṭūla
• शार्टूलजननी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्टूल-जननी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śārṭūla
• Śārṭūla’s mother

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds śravaṇa (attentive listening) as a prerequisite for dharmic response: ethical action is shown as arising after hearing and weighing counsel, especially within intimate bonds like parent and child.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates a transition: Śārṭūla has spoken, his mother hears his words, and the story moves to her reply—setting up the next decision or instruction that will carry the moral point forward.