Shloka 42

Vyāsa’s Inquiry into Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Tapas and the Identification of Vidura with Dharma

Devanagari script

एवं संस्तम्भितं वाक्यै: कुन्त्या बहुविधैर्मन:

Transliteration

evaṁ saṁstambhitaṁ vākyaiḥ kuntyā bahuvidhair manaḥ

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Như vậy, nhờ những lời lẽ đa dạng của Kuntī, tâm trí ấy được nâng đỡ và giữ vững—bị ngăn khỏi dao động, được đưa trở lại sự điềm tĩnh trước nỗi sầu và sức ép của bổn phận đạo lý.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable)

• संस्तम्भितम्: restrained/steadied
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सं-स्तम्भ्
• Form: Neuter, nominative, singular (past passive participle used adjectivally)

• वाक्यैः: by words/speeches
• वाक्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, instrumental, plural

• कुन्त्या: by Kunti
• कुन्त्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुन्ती
• Form: Feminine, instrumental, singular

• बहुविधैः: of many kinds/various
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुविध
• Form: Neuter, instrumental, plural

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, nominative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kuntī

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Wise, dharma-grounded speech can stabilize a distressed mind. The verse highlights the ethical power of counsel: words shaped by experience and duty can restrain grief, restore clarity, and enable right action even amid suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Ashramavāsika context, Kuntī speaks at length in various ways to console and instruct. Her words calm and steady the listener’s mind, preventing it from being overwhelmed by sorrow and confusion in the aftermath of the great war.