Shloka 20

Devanagari script

आपीडकेयूरवराड्रदानि ग्रैवैयनिष्का: ससुवर्णसूत्रा:

Transliteration

āpīḍakeyūravarāḍradāni graivaiyanīṣkāḥ sa-suvarṇasūtrāḥ

Translation

Śalya spricht von prächtigem Schmuck—Diademen und Armreifen sowie Halsketten mit goldenen Fäden—und ruft damit den Reichtum und das kriegerische Gepränge wach, das die Kämpfer umgibt. Im ethischen Schatten des Krieges betont solcher Prunk den Gegensatz zwischen äußerem Ruhm und den inneren Kosten von Gewalt und Hochmut.

Word by Word

• आपीड: diadems, head-ornaments
• आपीड: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपीड
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• केयूर: armlets
• केयूर: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: केयूर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• वर: excellent, splendid
• वर: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• आर्द्रदानि: moistened/wet (with blood/sweat)
• आर्द्रदानि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्द्रदानि
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• ग्रैवेय: neck-ornaments
• ग्रैवेय: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रैवेय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• निष्काः: gold ornaments/coins (nishkas)
• निष्काः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्क
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स: with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स

• सुवर्ण: golden (gold)
• सुवर्ण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सूत्राः: threads, strings
• सूत्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śalya
• diadem (āpīḍa)
• armlet (keyūra)
• necklace (graiveya)
• gold ornament (nīṣka)
• golden thread (suvarṇasūtra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the allure of external splendor—royal and martial ornaments—implicitly reminding that such visible glory can mask the deeper moral weight of war, where pride and display do not prevent suffering or accountability.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya is describing (or pointing to) the warriors’ magnificent adornments—diadems, armlets, and gold-threaded necklaces—painting a vivid battlefield or courtly scene where martial prestige is emphasized.