Shloka 40

Vyāsa’s Boon-Offer and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse in the Forest Assembly (आश्रमवासिक पर्व, अध्याय ३६)

Devanagari script

अन्तःपुराणां च तदा महानार्तस्वरो5भवत्‌

Transliteration

antaḥpurāṇāṁ ca tadā mahān ārta-svaro 'bhavat

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：其时，自内宫女眷之所，骤然腾起一阵巨大的哀号——悲恸的爆发，昭示着宫中内宅忽然直面苦难与失丧。

Word by Word

• अन्तःपुराणाम्: of the inner apartments (women's quarters)
• अन्तःपुराणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तःपुर
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

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

• महान्: great
• महान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आर्तस्वरः: a cry of distress
• आर्तस्वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्तस्वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभवत्: arose / occurred / was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• antaḥpura (inner palace/women’s quarters)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how suffering is not confined to the battlefield or public sphere; it penetrates the private spaces of life as well, reminding the listener of impermanence and the ethical weight of actions whose consequences ripple through families and dependents.

What is happening in the narrative?

At this moment in the Ashramavāsika narrative, a sudden, intense wail rises from the inner apartments of the palace, indicating that the women of the household have been struck by distress—likely reacting to grave news or a calamity unfolding.