Shloka 31

अध्याय ५६ — च्यवन–कुशिकसंवादः

Cyavana–Kuśika Dialogue on Lineage, Conflict, and Transmission

Devanagari script

किड्किणीस्वननिर्घोषो युक्तस्तोरणकल्पनै: । जाम्बूनदनिबद्ध श्व परमेषुशतान्वित:

Transliteration

kiḍkiṇī-svana-nirghoṣo yuktaḥ toraṇa-kalpanaiḥ | jāmbūnada-nibaddha-śva parameṣu-śatānvitaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “Let the chariot resound with the sweet, far-carrying music of its small bells. Let it be fitted with arch-like ornamental fittings and richly adorned. Let it be fastened with Jāmbūnada gold, and let it be furnished with hundreds of excellent arrows.”

Word by Word

• किङ्किणी-स्वन-निर्घोषः: the loud sound (resonance) of the tinkling bells
• किङ्किणी-स्वन-निर्घोषः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक); किङ्किणी, स्वन (उपपद)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युक्तः: fitted, furnished, equipped
• युक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तोरण-कल्पनैः: with arrangements/ornaments of arches (toranas)
• तोरण-कल्पनैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पना (प्रातिपदिक); तोरण (उपपद)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• जाम्बूनद-निबद्धः: bound/inlaid with Jāmbūnada-gold
• जाम्बूनद-निबद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निबद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक); जाम्बूनद (उपपद)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्वः: tomorrow
• श्वः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्वस्/श्वः (अव्यय)
• Form: true

• परम-इषु-शत-अन्वितः: provided with hundreds of excellent arrows
• परम-इषु-शत-अन्वितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक); परम, इषु, शत (उपपद)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• chariot (ratha)
• small bells (kiḍkiṇī)
• Jāmbūnada gold
• arrows (iṣu)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores that a warrior’s readiness is not merely inner resolve but also proper equipment and dignified presentation—orderly preparation, excellence of arms, and fitting adornment aligned with one’s duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing the ideal features of a chariot: it should be audibly ornamented with small bells, decorated with arch-like fittings, inlaid or fastened with fine gold, and stocked with many excellent arrows—depicting a fully prepared royal-warrior conveyance.