Shloka 103

आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः

Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition

Devanagari script

कवची निषज्जी दण्डी दण्डधारो धरनुग्रहः । उग्रो भीमरथो वीरो वीरबाहुरलोलुप:

Transliteration

kavacī niṣajjī daṇḍī daṇḍadhāro dharanugrahaḥ | ugro bhīmaratho vīro vīrabāhur alolupaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “He was armoured and ever-ready, bearing a staff and skilled in wielding it; a steadfast supporter and benefactor of the earth. Fierce in might, with a formidable chariot, truly heroic—strong-armed and free from greed.”

Word by Word

कवचीarmored, wearing armor

निषज्जीwith quiver (having arrows ready)

दण्डीstaff-bearing, armed with a rod

दण्डधारःholder of a staff

धरनुग्रहःfavor/support of the earth (protector of the land)

उग्रःfierce, formidable

भीमरथःof terrible chariot (having a fearsome chariot)

वीरःhero, warrior

वीरबाहुःhaving heroic arms

अलोलुपःnot greedy, unavaricious

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

daṇḍa (staff/rod of authority)

kavaca (armour)

ratha (chariot)

dharaṇī (earth/realm)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises a ruler/warrior whose power is legitimate because it is disciplined and protective: he is ready and armed, capable of enforcing order (daṇḍa), supports the realm (dharaṇī), and yet remains alolupa—free from greed. Ethical strength is shown as restraint joined to responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing a formidable figure through a string of epithets—armoured, prepared, staff-bearing, fierce, chariot-mighty, heroic, strong-armed, and non-greedy—typical of Mahābhārata character-introductions that establish martial capacity alongside moral qualities.