Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तवचन वायुमर्जुन: प्रत्युवाच ह | प्रतिपूज्य महाबाहो यत्‌ तच्छृणु युधिष्ठिर

Transliteration

ity uktavacanaṃ vāyum arjunaḥ pratyuvāca ha | pratipūjya mahābāho yat tac chṛṇu yudhiṣṭhira ||

Translation

毗湿摩说：听罢风神伐由之言，阿周那便作答。臂力无双的由提施提罗啊，他先如礼敬奉伐由，你且听那答辞。

Word by Word

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

• उक्तवचनम्: the spoken words / what was said
• उक्तवचनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त-वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वायुम्: Vayu (the Wind-god)
• वायुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna (Kartavirya Arjuna)
• अर्जुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha/लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ह: indeed (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह

• प्रतिपूज्य: having duly honored
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-पूज्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), Active

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यत्: what
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शृणु: hear
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• युधिष्ठिर: O Yudhishthira
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Vayu
• Arjuna (Kartavīrya Arjuna)
• Yudhishthira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models dharmic conduct in discourse: even when responding, one should first honor the speaker (here, Vayu) and then speak. Respectful listening and reverent reply are presented as ethical norms.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma, instructing Yudhishthira, transitions the story: after Vayu has spoken (in context, about the greatness of Brahmanas), Kartavirya Arjuna respectfully honors Vayu and gives his reply, which Bhishma now invites Yudhishthira to hear.