Shloka 12

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 42 — Duryodhana’s counsel to Bhīṣma on ajñātavāsa risk and raid strategy

Devanagari script

वैयाप्रकोशे निहितो हेमचित्रो दुरासद: । सुफलश्रित्रकोशश्व॒ किड़किणीसायको महान्‌

Transliteration

vaiyāprakōśe nihito hemacitro durāsadaḥ | suphalāśritrakośaś ca kiḍkiṇīsāyako mahān ||

Translation

Uttara sagte: „In der Waffenkammer liegt eine große Waffe, der man sich nur schwer nähern kann—mit Gold geschmückt und reich verziert. Es ist ein mächtiger Bogen, berühmt für seine sichere Wirksamkeit, begleitet von Pfeilen, deren Köcher und Beschläge mit Glöckchen klingen.“

Word by Word

वैयाप्रकोशेin the Vaiyāpra-quiver (a particular quiver)

निहितःplaced, deposited

हेमचित्रःgold-adorned, variegated with gold

दुरासदःhard to approach/assail

सुफलश्रित्रकोशःa quiver/treasure-case of auspicious fruit-like splendor (textually uncertain compound)

किङ्किणीसायकःa (quiver/weapon) with tinkling-bell arrows / bell-adorned arrows

महान्great, mighty

Speaker

उत्तर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Uttara

armoury (weapon-store)

gold-adorned weapon/bow

quiver

arrows

bells (kiḍkiṇī)

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 underscores the gravity of warfare and the responsibility tied to powerful weapons: formidable arms are not casual possessions but guarded instruments whose use demands courage, restraint, and kṣatriya discipline.

What is happening in the narrative?

Uttara points out that a magnificent, formidable weapon is stored in the royal armoury—gold-adorned and accompanied by quivers and arrows—setting the scene for arming oneself in the unfolding conflict.