Shloka 93

Kārttikeya-Abhiṣecana: Mātṛgaṇa-Nāma Saṃkīrtana and Skanda’s Commission

Devanagari script

नानावेषधराश्चवैव नानामाल्यानुलेपना: । नानावस्त्रधराश्चैव चर्मवासस एव च,वे नाना प्रकारके वेश, भाँति-भाँतिकी माला और चन्दन तथा अनेक प्रकारके वस्त्र धारण करते थे। कोई-कोई चमड़ेका ही वस्त्र पहनते थे

Transliteration

nānāveṣadharāś caiva nānāmālyānulepanāḥ | nānāvāstradharāś caiva carmavāsasa eva ca ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Sie erschienen in vielerlei Verkleidungen, geschmückt mit unterschiedlichen Girlanden und duftenden Salben. Sie trugen Gewänder mancher Art; einige kleideten sich sogar nur in Häute.“

Word by Word

नानाvarious, many kinds of

आवेष-धराःwearers of disguises/attires

चand

एवindeed, just

नानाvarious, many kinds of

माल्य-अनुलेपनाःthose with garlands and unguents (sandal-paste etc.)

नानाvarious, many kinds of

वस्त्र-धराःwearers of garments

चand

एवindeed, just

चर्म-वाससःwearers of leather garments

एवindeed, just

चand

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

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 how outward appearance—dress, adornment, and even ascetic hide-clothing—can differ greatly within a single assembly. It implicitly cautions that ethical worth and intent are not reliably judged by external markers, a relevant tension in the war narrative where inner resolve and dharma are tested.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a crowd or gathering characterized by diverse costumes and adornments: some wear garlands and perfumes, others different garments, and some are clad in hides. It functions as a vivid scene-setting detail within the Shalya Parva’s unfolding events.