Shloka 18

Devanagari script

तत्र हर्षकरी वाचो नराणां शुश्रुवे&र्जुन:

Transliteration

tatra harṣakarī vāco narāṇāṃ śuśruve ’rjunaḥ

Translation

तत्र हर्षकरी वाचो नराणां शुश्रुवेऽर्जुनः।

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb of place)

• हर्षकरीः: joy-producing
• हर्षकरीः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्षकर (हर्ष + कर)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• वाचः: words/speeches
• वाचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• नराणाम्: of men/people
• नराणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• शुश्रुवे: heard
• शुश्रुवे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

युधिष्ठिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• people (narāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how righteous action and orderly governance are reflected in the morale of the people: speech that is “harṣakarī” suggests a social atmosphere of reassurance and auspicious approval, implying that dharmic outcomes are not only personal but also communal.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Yudhiṣṭhira’s narration, Arjuna arrives at a particular scene and hears the people speaking in a joyful, heartening manner—an audible sign that the situation is turning favorable or is being received positively by the community.