Shloka 9
आदि पर्व — जातुगृह-प्रसङ्गः: विदुरप्रेषित-खनकस्य सूचना तथा पलायन-मार्ग-निर्माणम्
Adi Parva 135: The Miner’s Warning and Construction of the Escape Passage
काज्चनं कवचं बिश्रत् प्रत्यदृश्यत फाल्गुन: । सार्क: सेन्द्रायुधतडित् ससंध्य इव तोयद:,तदनन्तर आचार्यके कहनेसे स्वस्तिवाचन कराकर तरुण वीर अर्जुन गोहके चमड़ेके बने हुए हाथके दस्ताने पहने, बाणोंसे भरा तरकस लिये धनुषसहित रंगभूमिमें दिखायी दिये। वे श्याम शरीरपर सोनेका कवच धारण किये ऐसे सुशोभित हो रहे थे, मानो सूर्य, इन्द्रधनुष, विद्युत् और संध्याकालसे युक्त मेघ शोभा पाता हो
kāñcanaṃ kavacaṃ bibhrat pratyadṛśyata phālgunaḥ | sārkaḥ sendrāyudha-taḍit sa-sandhya iva toyadaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then Phālguna (Arjuna) came into view, wearing a golden cuirass. He shone like a rain-cloud adorned with the sun, Indra’s rainbow, lightning, and the hues of twilight.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses auspicious natural imagery (sun, rainbow, lightning, twilight) to portray martial power as something that should be radiant yet ordered—strength placed under discipline and rightful purpose (dharma), not mere violence.
Vaiśampāyana narrates Arjuna’s appearance in full martial splendor, wearing a golden cuirass and shining brilliantly, signaling his readiness for the impending contest/encounter and establishing his heroic presence.