Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

त॑ राजा कस्त्वमित्याह ततस्तं प्राह मारुत: । वायुर्वे देवदूतो5स्मि हित॑ त्वां प्रत्रवीम्पहम्‌

Transliteration

taṁ rājā kastvam ity āha tatas taṁ prāha mārutaḥ | vāyur vai devadūto 'smi hitaṁ tvāṁ prabravīmi aham ||

Translation

国王听了这些话，便问：“尊者，你是谁？”于是摩鲁多答道：“大王，我是伐由，诸天的使者；我所言皆为你的福祉。”

Word by Word

• तत्: that (speech/statement)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

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

• आह: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्राह: said to (him)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मारुतः: Maruta (Wind-god)
• मारुतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारुत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वायुः: Vāyu (Wind)
• वायुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• देवदूतः: messenger of the gods
• देवदूतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवदूत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्मि: I am
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• हितम्: beneficial (thing/word)
• हितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Accusative, Singular

• प्रब्रवीमि: I tell / I declare
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ब्रू
• Form: Present, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Kārtavīrya (king)
• Vāyu (Māruta)
• the gods (devas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should be receptive to salutary counsel (hita), especially when it comes with divine authority; the verse frames ethical instruction as guidance meant for the king’s welfare rather than flattery or fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

The king, identified in the received context as Kārtavīrya, asks the unknown speaker’s identity; the speaker reveals himself as Vāyu (Māruta), a divine messenger, and announces that he is about to give beneficial advice.