Shloka 6

शकुनेः पुत्रेण सह आश्वमेधाश्वविषयः संघर्षः — Arjuna’s restrained engagement with Śakuni’s son during the horse-escort

Devanagari script

प्रोवाचेद॑ वच: काले तदा धर्मभूतां वर: । आमन्त्र्य वदतां श्रेष्ठो भीम॑ प्रहरतां वरम्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

provācedaṁ vacaḥ kāle tadā dharmabhūtāṁ varaḥ |

āmantrya vadatāṁ śreṣṭho bhīmaṁ praharatāṁ varam, kurunandana |

Translation

毗舍波耶那说道：在那恰当的时刻，至正之首的由提施提罗说出了应时之言。他召来“击打者之最”毗摩，并对他说——噢，俱卢之欢——由提施提罗，这位德言兼备的至上说者，遂开口陈辞。

Word by Word

• प्रोवाच: said, spoke forth
• प्रोवाच: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वचः: speech, words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• धर्मभूताम्: righteous (one who has become/embodies dharma)
• धर्मभूताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मभूत
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• वरः: the best, the excellent one
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आमन्त्र्य: having summoned/addressed
• आमन्त्र्य: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + मन्त्र्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Active

• वदताम्: of speakers / among those who speak
• वदताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Present active participle, Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• श्रेष्ठः: best
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीमम्: Bhima
• भीमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रहरताम्: of strikers/fighters / among those who strike
• प्रहरताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + हृ
• Form: Present active participle, Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• वरम्: the best (one)
• वरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कुरुनन्दन: O descendant/delighter of the Kurus
• कुरुनन्दन: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु-नन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja)
• Bhīma (Bhīmasena)
• Kuru lineage (Kurunandana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma-guided leadership: a righteous king speaks only at the proper time and addresses the most capable person for the task, combining ethical authority (dharma) with practical discernment (kāla, timeliness).

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator introduces a scene where Yudhiṣṭhira, after summoning Bhīma, begins to deliver a timely instruction. The verse functions as a transition into Yudhiṣṭhira’s counsel or command directed specifically to Bhīma.