Shloka 58
Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha
Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context
Devanagari script
देवलस्तु वच: श्रुत्वा भूतानां करुणं तथा
Transliteration
devalas tu vacaḥ śrutvā bhūtānāṃ karuṇaṃ tathā
Translation
உயிர்களின் நலனுக்காக உரைக்கப்பட்ட அந்த இரக்கமிகு சொற்களை கேட்டதும் தேவலனும் உருகினான்; நிகழ்வுகளின் கடுமைக்கிடையில் கருணையின் தர்மப் பாரத்தை உணர்ந்தான்।
Word by Word
देवलःDevala (proper name)
देवलः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदेवल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
वचःspeech/words
वचः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवचस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
भूतानाम्of beings/creatures
भूतानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootभूत
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
करुणम्compassionate/piteous
करुणम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootकरुण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
तथाthus/so/likewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VaiśampāyanaD
DevalaB
bhūtāni (living beings)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds karuṇā (compassion) as a dharmic value: speech that considers the suffering of all beings carries ethical force and can redirect judgment even in severe circumstances.
The narrator reports Devala’s response: he hears a compassionate appeal concerning living beings and is affected by it, setting up his ensuing reaction or counsel in the surrounding passage.