Shloka 3

अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)

Devanagari script

अक्षौहिणीपती राजन्‌ महावीर्यपराक्रम: । विचित्रकवचा: शूरा विचित्रध्वजकार्मुका:

Transliteration

akṣauhiṇīpatī rājan mahāvīryaparākramaḥ | vicitrakavacāḥ śūrā vicitradhvajakārmukāḥ ||

Translation

হে রাজন! অক্ষৌহিণীর অধিপতি সেই সেনানায়কেরা মহাবীর্য ও পরাক্রমে সমৃদ্ধ—শূর, বিচিত্র বর্মধারী, এবং নানাবিধ ধ্বজা ও ধনুকে বিভূষিত।

Word by Word

• अक्षौहिणीपती: two lords/commanders of an akṣauhiṇī (army-division)
• अक्षौहिणीपती: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षौहिणीपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• महावीर्यपराक्रमः: of great valor and prowess
• महावीर्यपराक्रमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावीर्यपराक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विचित्रकवचाः: wearing variegated/remarkable armor
• विचित्रकवचाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्रकवच
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शूराः: heroes, brave warriors
• शूराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विचित्रध्वजकार्मुकाः: having wondrous banners and bows
• विचित्रध्वजकार्मुकाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्रध्वजकार्मुक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• rājan (the king addressed, i.e., Janamejaya in the frame narrative)
• akṣauhiṇī (army-division)
• kavaca (armor)
• dhvaja (banner)
• kārmuka (bow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the scale and ordered structure of war: power is not merely individual bravery but organized command (akṣauhiṇī-pati). Ethically, it hints at the grave responsibility borne by leaders whose prowess and decisions move vast forces toward conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the war-ready host by highlighting its commanders and their martial splendor—armored heroes marked by distinctive banners and bows—setting the scene for the mobilization and impending confrontation in the Udyoga Parva.