Shloka 116

Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्त्वा नकुल: सर्वान्‌ यज्ञे द्विजवरांस्तदा

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca—ity uktvā nakulaḥ sarvān yajñe dvijavarān tadā

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Nói xong như vậy, Nakula bèn ngỏ lời với tất cả các vị Bà-la-môn tối thượng đang hiện diện trong lễ tế. (Trong mạch truyện của đoạn này, sau khi lời răn được thốt ra, sinh vật kỳ diệu ấy biến mất khỏi pháp đàn, còn các Bà-la-môn thì tản về nhà—nhấn mạnh rằng sự huy hoàng nghi lễ sẽ rỗng tuếch về đạo lý nếu thiếu dharma và lòng bi mẫn chân thật.)

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• उक्त्वा: having said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active, Non-finite

• नकुलः: Nakula
• नकुलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• यज्ञे: in the sacrifice
• यज्ञे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• द्विजवरान्: the best of the twice-born (excellent Brahmins)
• द्विजवरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजवर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Nakula
• Janamejaya
• Brāhmaṇas (dvijavarāḥ)
• Yajña (sacrifice/sacrificial ground)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage functions as a narrative hinge: it points to the Mahābhārata’s recurring ethical claim that ritual performance (yajña) gains true worth only when grounded in dharma—right intention, humility, and compassion—rather than mere scale, prestige, or external correctness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports that, after speaking, Nakula addresses the assembled eminent Brāhmaṇas at the sacrifice. In the surrounding episode’s flow, the extraordinary creature that had appeared at the yajña vanishes, and the Brāhmaṇas depart to their homes, marking the close of the incident and its moral reflection.