Shloka 21

Devanagari script

अविलम्बमनायस्तमद्रुतं धीरमूर्जितम्‌ । असंसक्ताक्षरपदं स्वरभावसमन्वितम्‌

Transliteration

avilambam anāyastam adrutaṃ dhīram ūrjitam | asaṃsaktākṣarapadaṃ svarabhāvasamanvitam ||

Translation

కథాపఠనం అతిగా ఆగి ఆగి చేయకూడదు; అలాగే అతివేగంగా కూడా చేయకూడదు. అది సులభంగా, ధీరంగా, ఓజస్సుతో సాగాలి; అక్షరపదాలు కలిసిపోకుండా స్పష్టంగా ఉచ్చరించాలి; స్వరం, భావం సమన్వయంగా ఉండాలి— అప్పుడు అర్థం మధురంగా బోధపడుతుంది.

Word by Word

• अविलम्बम्: without delay
• अविलम्बम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविलम्ब
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अनायस्तम्: without strain/effort
• अनायस्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनायस्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अद्रुतम्: not too fast
• अद्रुतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्रुत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धीरम्: steady/composed
• धीरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ऊर्जितम्: vigorous/strong
• ऊर्जितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्जित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• असंसक्त: unattached/unclinging
• असंसक्त: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंसक्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अक्षर: syllable/letter
• अक्षर: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• पदम्: word/footing
• पदम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• स्वर: tone/voice
• स्वर: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भाव: feeling/meaning
• भाव: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समन्वितम्: endowed with/combined with
• समन्वितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समन्वित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches disciplined, ethical speech in sacred narration: avoid dragging or rushing, speak without strain, articulate syllables and words distinctly, and align tone with intended emotion so the listener understands the meaning clearly.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana gives a normative instruction about how a kathā-vācaka (narrator/reciter) should deliver the Mahābhārata—setting standards for pace, clarity of pronunciation, and expressive tone as part of proper transmission of the tradition.