Shloka 23

Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna Saṃvāda in Indraprastha: Consolation, Legitimation, and Leave for Dvārakā (आश्वमेधिकपर्व, अध्याय १५)

Devanagari script

शिष्टो युधिष्ठिरो5स्माभि: शास्ता सन्नपि पाण्डव: | तेन तत्‌ तु वचः सम्यग गृहीतं सुमहात्मना

Transliteration

śiṣṭo yudhiṣṭhiro ’smābhiḥ śāstā sann api pāṇḍavaḥ | tena tat tu vacaḥ samyag gṛhītaṃ sumahātmanā ||

Translation

పాండవుడు యుధిష్ఠిరుడు తానే శాసకుడూ ఉపదేశకుడూ అయినప్పటికీ శిష్టుడూ సంస్కారవంతుడూ; అందువల్ల ఆ మహాత్ముడు మా మాటలను యథావిధిగా సరిగ్గా స్వీకరించాడు.

Word by Word

• शिष्टः: well-disciplined, cultured
• शिष्टः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्माभिः: by us
• अस्माभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Instrumental, Plural

• शास्ता: ruler, chastiser, governor
• शास्ता: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: शास्
• Form: तृच् (agent noun), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सन्: being
• सन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: even, although
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• पाण्डवः: the Pāṇḍava (son of Pāṇḍu)
• पाण्डवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तेन: by him/therefore
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• तु: but, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

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

• सम्यक्: properly, correctly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्

• गृहीतम्: was accepted/taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• सुमहात्मना: by the very great-souled one
• सुमहात्मना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमहात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Pāṇḍava(s)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even a capable ruler and moral instructor should remain receptive to guidance; true greatness is shown by disciplined conduct (śiṣṭatva) and the humble, correct acceptance of good counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu praises Yudhiṣṭhira’s character, noting that although Yudhiṣṭhira is himself a leader and teacher, he properly receives and internalizes the words spoken by the divine speaker(s), highlighting his fitness for righteous rule.