Shloka 21

शल्यपर्वणि प्रथमाध्यायः — Karṇa-vadha-anantaraṃ Śalya-niyogaḥ, Saṃjayasya Dhṛtarāṣṭra-nivedanam

Devanagari script

तथा स विदह्वल: सूत: प्रविश्य नृपतिक्षयम्‌

Transliteration

tathā sa vidhahvalaḥ sūtaḥ praviśya nṛpati-kṣayam

Translation

毗舍波耶那说：于是那御者心神震荡、惶惶失措，走入王宫内廷——肩负凶讯之重，亦承受战争加诸于报信之人那难以逃避的道义压力。

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विदह्वलः: agitated, bewildered
• विदह्वलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विदह्वल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सूतः: charioteer
• सूतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• नृपति-क्षयम्: the king's abode/palace (lit. 'king-dwelling')
• नृपति-क्षयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति-क्षय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• sūta (charioteer/messenger)
• nṛpati (the king)
• nṛpati-kṣaya (the king’s residence)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even those not fighting—messengers, attendants, and charioteers—are morally and emotionally affected by war; the verse highlights the human cost and the burden of conveying painful truth within the royal sphere.

What is happening in the narrative?

A distressed sūta (charioteer/messenger) goes into the king’s residence, implying he is about to report urgent and troubling developments from the battlefield or court affairs.