Shloka 17

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 186 — Drupada’s Summons and the Pāñcāla Reception

Devanagari script

किरीटहाराड्गदचक्रवालै- विभूषिताजड्: पृथुबाहवस्ते | अनुक्रमं विक्रमसच्त्वयुक्ता बलेन वीर्येण च नर्दमाना:

Transliteration

kirīṭahārāḍgadacakravālaiḥ vibhūṣitājaḍaḥ pṛthubāhavaste | anukramaṃ vikramasattvayuktā balena vīryeṇa ca nardamānāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Mit Kronen und Girlanden geschmückt und gleichsam von Keulen und Wurfscheiben umringt, rückten jene breitarmigen Krieger—voll Tapferkeit und unbeirrbarer Standhaftigkeit—in geordneten Reihen vor und brüllten vor Zuversicht, geboren aus Kraft und heldischem Feuer.

Word by Word

किरीटwith crowns/diadems

हारwith garlands/necklaces

अङ्गदwith armlets

चक्रwith discs/wheels

वालैःwith ornaments/strings (as 'vāla' items)

विभूषिताःadorned

अजाःgoats (or 'unborn ones' depending on context)

पृथु-बाहवःbroad-armed

तेthey

अनुक्रमम्in order; sequence (as object/accusative of manner)

विक्रम-सत्त्व-युक्ताःendowed with prowess and strength

बलेनby strength

वीर्येणby valor/potency

चand

नर्दमानाःroaring

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

kirīṭa (crown)

hāra (garland/necklace)

gadā (mace)

cakra (discus)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of disciplined courage: true martial excellence is not mere noise or ornament, but ordered advance (anukrama) supported by inner steadiness (sattva) and responsible strength (bala, vīrya).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a company of powerful warriors, richly adorned and armed, moving forward in proper ranks and roaring with martial confidence—an image of organized, energized readiness for a major confrontation.