Shloka 27

Śalya’s Consecration as Senāpati and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira (शल्यस्य सेनापत्यभिषेकः)

Devanagari script

दुर्योधनवच: श्रुत्वा शल्यो मद्राधिपस्तदा । उवाच वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञो राजानं राजसंनिधौ

Transliteration

duryodhanavacaḥ śrutvā śalyo madrādhipas tadā | uvāca vākyaṃ vākyajño rājānaṃ rājasaṃnidhau ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Nghe lời Duryodhana, Śalya—chúa xứ Madra, người tinh tường thấu hiểu ý tứ ẩn sau lời nói—liền cất lời với vua Duryodhana trước mặt các vương hầu đang tụ hội.

Word by Word

• दुर्योधनवचः: Duryodhana's speech/words
• दुर्योधनवचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन-वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral), Non-finite

• शल्यः: Shalya
• शल्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मद्राधिपः: lord of Madra
• मद्राधिपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्र-अधिप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वाक्यम्: a statement/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वाक्यज्ञः: knower of (the import of) words
• वाक्यज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्य-ज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजानम्: to the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• राजसंनिधौ: in the presence of kings
• राजसंनिधौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज-संनिधि
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana
• Śalya
• Madra
• assembled kings (rājānaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and political weight of speech in royal settings: a wise counselor (vākyajña) must grasp not only literal words but also their intention and consequences, especially amid war where counsel can shape fate.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Śalya, king of Madra, hears Duryodhana’s remarks and then responds publicly before other kings—setting up a consequential exchange of counsel and strategy within the Kaurava camp.