Shloka 19

Devanagari script

सकुण्डलं समुकुटं सुनसं स्वायतेक्षणम्‌

Transliteration

sakuṇḍalaṃ samukuṭaṃ sunāsaṃ svāyatekṣaṇam

Translation

Sañjaya said: “(He appeared) adorned with earrings and a diadem, with a well-shaped nose, and with large, elongated eyes.”

Word by Word

• सकुण्डलम्: having earrings
• सकुण्डलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुण्डल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• समुकुटम्: wearing a crown
• समुकुटम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुकुट
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सुनसम्: having a fine nose
• सुनसम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नासिका
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• स्वायत-ईक्षणम्: having long/large eyes
• स्वायत-ईक्षणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वायत + ईक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• earrings (kuṇḍala)
• crown/diadem (mukuṭa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes the epic convention of portraying a warrior or royal figure through auspicious physical and regal ornaments, suggesting dignity, legitimacy, and heroic presence—qualities expected of leaders in a dharmic social order even amid war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing a figure’s appearance in vivid, courtly terms—earrings, crown, and striking eyes—setting the scene and highlighting the person’s royal/heroic bearing within the Shalya Parva war narration.