Shloka 20

Duryodhana-vadha-pratikriyā: Harṣa, Nindā, and Kṛṣṇa’s Nīti-vyākhyā (Śalya-parva 60)

Devanagari script

वासुदेववच: श्रुत्वा सीरभृत्‌ प्राह धर्मवित्‌

Transliteration

vāsudevavacaḥ śrutvā sīrabhṛt prāha dharmavit

Translation

桑阇耶说道：听罢婆苏提婆的话，那位执犁之英雄、通晓法（达摩）者，开口作答。

Word by Word

• वासुदेववचः: the words of Vāsudeva
• वासुदेववचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव-वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• सीरभृत्: the plough-bearer (Balarāma)
• सीरभृत्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीर-भृत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्राह: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह् (अह्/ब्रू sense)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• धर्मवित्: knower of dharma
• धर्मवित्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-वित्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• Sīrabhṛt (Balarāma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma-guided response: after receiving counsel (Vāsudeva’s words), a dharma-knower speaks, implying that right action in conflict begins with attentive listening and morally informed judgment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Balarāma (the plough-bearer) hears Kṛṣṇa’s statement and then speaks, marking a transition from Kṛṣṇa’s counsel to Balarāma’s dharmic reply within the Shalya Parva war context.