Shloka 103

Bhāgīrathī-tīra-śauca, Kurukṣetra-gamana, and Śatayūpa-āśrama-dīkṣā (गङ्गातीरशौच–कुरुक्षेत्रगमन–शतयूपाश्रमदीक्षा)

Devanagari script

कुशलप्रश्नसंयुक्ते कुशलो वाक्यकर्मणि । वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! धृतराष्ट्रके इस प्रकार कुशल-समाचार पूछनेपर बातचीत करनेमें कुशल न्याय-वेत्ता राजा युधिष्ठिरने इस प्रकार कहा--

Transliteration

kuśalapraśnasaṃyukte kuśalo vākyakarmaṇi |

Translation

毗舍摩波耶那说：持国王如此问候安康之事时，尤提士提罗王——言辞有度，处事精审，通晓正义——便依礼作答。叙述由此凸显一条伦理：长者与君主之间，当以恭敬之问相接，以自持而合乎达摩之答相应。

Word by Word

• कुशलप्रश्नसंयुक्ते: in/when (he was) joined with an inquiry about welfare
• कुशलप्रश्नसंयुक्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुशल-प्रश्न-संयुक्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• कुशलः: skilled
• कुशलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुशल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वाक्यकर्मणि: in the act of speaking/conversation
• वाक्यकर्मणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्यकर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores dharmic communication: welfare-inquiry (kuśala-praśna) is a mark of proper social and royal conduct, and the ideal response is restrained, competent, and aligned with justice—speech and action working together.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that after Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks about well-being, Yudhiṣṭhira—renowned for judicious speech and governance—begins his reply, setting a tone of respectful dialogue between an elder Kuru and the reigning Pāṇḍava king.