Shloka 2

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 29 — Suśarmā’s Counsel and the Coordinated Goharaṇa Plan

Devanagari script

धर्मार्थसहितं श्लक्ष्णं तत्त्वतश्न सहेतुकम्‌ । तत्रानुरूपं भीष्मेण ममाप्यत्र गिरं शूणु

Transliteration

dharma-artha-sahitaṁ ślakṣṇaṁ tattvataś ca sahetukam | tatrānurūpaṁ bhīṣmeṇa mamāpy atra giraṁ śṛṇu ||

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు అన్నాడు— ఇక్కడ భీష్ముడు సందర్భానుగుణంగా పలికిన, ధర్మార్థసహితమైన, సునిగూఢమైన, తత్త్వనిష్ఠమైన, యుక్తిసహితమైన వాక్యమును—అదే విధంగా నా మాటనూ వినుము।

Word by Word

धर्मार्थसहितम्accompanied by dharma and artha

श्लक्ष्णम्gentle, polished

तत्त्वतःin truth; truly

चand

सहेतुकम्with reasons; well-reasoned

तत्रthere; in that matter

अनुरूपम्appropriate; fitting

भीष्मेणby Bhishma

ममof me; my

अपिalso; even

अत्रhere; in this matter

गिरम्speech; words

शृणुhear; listen

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīṣma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Speech worthy of being heard is characterized by refinement, truthfulness, and clear reasoning, and it should serve dharma (moral duty) together with artha (practical welfare), while remaining appropriate to the situation.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator Vaiśampāyana introduces (or frames) Bhīṣma’s forthcoming/related statement, emphasizing that it is well-reasoned, truthful, and suited to the context, and invites the listener to attend to it.