Mahabharata · 1.194.22–23
॥
Devanāgarī
वैशंपायन उवाच
श्रुत्वा तु राधेयवचो धृतराष्ट्रः प्रतापवान् ॥
अभिपूज्य ततः पश्चाद् इदं वचनम् अब्रवीत् ॥
उपपन्नं महाप्राज्ञे कृतास्त्रे सूतनन्दने ॥
त्वयि विक्रमसंपन्नम् इदं वचनम् ईदृशम् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca
śrutvā tu rādheyavaco dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ pratāpavān ||
abhipūjya tataḥ paścād idaṃ vacanam abravīt ||
upapannaṃ mahāprājñe kṛtāstre sūtanandane ||
tvayi vikramasaṃpannam idaṃ vacanam īdṛśam ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
श्रुत्वा तु राधेयवचः धृतराष्ट्रः प्रतापवान्śrutvā tu rādheyavacaḥ dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ pratāpavānhaving heard, then, the word of Radheya, the mighty Dhritarashtra,
अभिपूज्य ततः पश्चात् इदं वचनम् अब्रवीत्abhipūjya tataḥ paścāt idaṃ vacanam abravīthaving honored [him], thereupon spoke this word:
उपपन्नं महाप्राज्ञे कृतास्त्रे सूतनन्दनेupapannaṃ mahāprājñe kṛtāstre sūtanandane"it befits [you], O greatly wise one, skilled in weapons, son of the suta,
त्वयि विक्रमसंपन्नम् इदं वचनम् ईदृशम्tvayi vikramasaṃpannam idaṃ vacanam īdṛśam[befits] you, endowed with valor, such a word;
वैशंपायनvaiśaṃpāyanaoriginal form "vaiśaṃpāyana", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
राधेयवचोrādheyavacooriginal form "rādheyavaco", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
पश्चाद्paścādoriginal form "paścād", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
Vaishampayana said: "Having heard the word of Radheya, the mighty Dhritarashtra, honoring him, then spoke this word: 'It befits you, O greatly wise one, skilled in weapons, son of the suta — you, endowed with valor — such a word.'"
Version
00d96a90b2ff · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:54:01 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here the king praises the valiant speech but does not resolve to act himself. It is telling that Dhritarashtra approves of Karna yet does not proceed to action: a weak ruler wavers among counsels. Here we see an indecision born of double-mindedness: lacking firm dharma, he vacillates. Thus the scripture reveals the king's instability; and, distrusting himself, he summons the elders.