Shloka 21
Brahmaṇānāṃ Yācanā—Tīrtha-yātrā-prastāvaḥ
The Brahmanas’ Petition and the Proposal of Pilgrimage
महाहवेष्वप्रतिमं महायुद्धविशारदम् । महाथनुर्धरं वीरं महास्त्रं वरवर्णिनम्
mahāhaveṣv apratimaṁ mahāyuddhaviśāradam | mahādhanuḥdharaṁ vīraṁ mahāstraṁ varavarṇinam
তেওঁ মহাসংগ্ৰামত অপ্রতিম, মহাযুদ্ধবিদ্যাত বিশাৰদ—মহাধনুৰ্ধৰ বীৰ, ভয়ংকৰ অস্ত্ৰে সম্পন্ন আৰু উৎকৃষ্ট ৰূপবৰ্ণধাৰী।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an idealized warrior profile: excellence in battle is grounded in mastery (viśāradatā), disciplined capability with weapons, and noble conduct/appearance—suggesting that power is meant to be cultivated as a trained, responsible kṣatriya virtue rather than mere aggression.
Vaiśaṃpāyana is describing a particular hero in elevated epithets—unmatched in major combats, expert in warfare, a great archer, and formidable in weaponry—setting the tone for the character’s significance in the unfolding events.