Shloka 19

Devanagari script

आर्षभे चर्मणी चित्रे शतचन्द्रपुरस्कृते । तारकाशतचित्रे च निस्त्रिंशी सुमहाप्रभौ,उनके हाथोंमें सौ-सौ चन्द्र और तारकाके चिह्ढोंसे युक्त ऋषभके चर्मकी बनी हुई ढालें और चमकीले खड्ग शोभा पाते थे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | ārṣabhe carmaṇī citre śatacandrapuraskṛte | tārakāśatacitre ca nistriṁśī sumahāprabhau ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Ihre prächtigen Schilde aus Stierhaut waren reich geschmückt—vorn mit hundert Mondzeichen besetzt und mit hundert Sternmalen geziert; und ihre blanken Schwerter glänzten in mächtigem Strahlenglanz.

Word by Word

आर्षभेon/with (that) of the bull (ṛṣabha)

चर्मणीon the hide/leather

चित्रेvariegated, ornamented

शतचन्द्रपुरस्कृतेadorned in front with a hundred moons

तारकाशतचित्रेdecorated with a hundred stars

चand

निस्त्रिंशीtwo swordsmen / (their) two swords

सुमहाप्रभौvery greatly splendid (two)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sanjaya

bull-hide shields (ārṣabha-carma)

moon emblems (candras)

star marks (tārakās)

swords (nistriṁśa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya world of duty and readiness: outward splendor of arms reflects disciplined preparation for a grave, consequential conflict, reminding the listener that war is undertaken with full awareness of its weight and responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya is describing the warriors’ equipment on the battlefield—ornate bull-hide shields marked with moon and star emblems, and brilliantly shining swords—intensifying the visual grandeur and tension before combat.