Shloka 84

अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः

Devanagari script

मद्रराजो महेष्वास: शल्य: समितिशोभन:

Transliteration

madrarājo maheṣvāsaḥ śalyaḥ samitiśobhanaḥ

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: The king of Madra, Śalya—an archer of great prowess, resplendent in the press of battle—stood forth there.

Word by Word

• मद्रराजः: the king of Madra
• मद्रराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्रराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महेष्वासः: great bowman
• महेष्वासः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शल्यः: Shalya
• शल्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समितिशोभनः: splendid in battle
• समितिशोभनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समितिशोभन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Śalya
• Madra (country/kingdom)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the ideal of kṣatriya excellence—royal responsibility joined with martial capability—while implicitly reminding that in war, even celebrated virtues like prowess and fame operate within morally complex circumstances shaped by allegiance and duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator identifies Śalya, the Madra king, describing him as a mighty archer and a figure who shines in battle—an introductory characterization that prepares the reader for his active role in the unfolding combat of the Karṇa Parva.