Shloka 23

गदायुद्ध-समारम्भः

Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings

Devanagari script

ततोअब्रवीद्‌ रोहिणेयो नारदं दीनया गिरा

Transliteration

tato 'bravīd rohiṇeyo nāradaṁ dīnayā girā

Translation

Bấy giờ Rohiṇeya cất lời với Nārada bằng giọng sầu thảm.

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from that/then')

• अब्रवीत्: said; spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• रोहिणेयः: Rohineya (Balarama)
• रोहिणेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहिणेय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नारदम्: Narada
• नारदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दीनया: with a dejected/sorrowful
• दीनया: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (विशेषणम्)

• गिरा: speech; voice; words
• गिरा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर्
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Rohiṇeya
• Nārada
• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical moment: sorrow prompts speech, and speech seeks guidance. It highlights the Mahābhārata’s recurring principle that in distress one should turn to wise counsel, allowing grief to become a doorway to discernment rather than despair.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Rohiṇeya addresses the sage Nārada, speaking in a dejected tone—an introductory transition indicating that a lament, confession, or request for instruction is about to follow.