Shloka 18
सूर्य–कर्णोपदेशः
Sūrya’s Counsel to Karṇa on Kīrti and the Kuṇḍala
प्रबभौ हरिसैन्यं तत् सालतालशिलायुधम् | सुमहच्छालिभवनं यथा सूर्योदयं प्रति
prababhau harisainyaṃ tat sālatālaśilāyudham | sumahacchālibhavanaṃ yathā sūryodayaṃ prati
قال ماركانديَيا: «لقد أشرق جيشُ هَري—مُتسلّحًا بأشجار السالا والتالا وبالصخور—كمدينةِ قصرٍ عظيمةٍ بهيّةٍ تتلألأ وهي تواجه شروق الشمس.»
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how divine-aligned power can appear awe-inspiring and orderly even in martial contexts: the host of Hari is portrayed not as chaotic violence but as radiant, purposeful force—suggesting that strength, when aligned with dharma, carries a luminous, elevating quality.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes the emergence or visibility of Hari’s army, emphasizing its brilliance and formidable armament (trees and stones as weapons). The simile compares this sight to a magnificent palace-city shining as it faces the sunrise, underscoring both beauty and overwhelming presence.