Shloka 18

सेनासमागमः — The Convergence of Armies

Devanagari script

तस्य तैः पुरुषव्याप्रैवनमाला धरैर्बलम्‌

Transliteration

tasya taiḥ puruṣavyāghrair vanamālā-dharair balam

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: His army was made formidable by those tiger-like men, wearing forest-garlands—heroes whose presence and disciplined strength heightened the force’s confidence and moral resolve.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• तैः: by/with those
• तैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• पुरुषव्याप्रैः: by those engaged in manly exertion / by energetic men
• पुरुषव्याप्रैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुषव्याप्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वनमालाधरैः: by garland-wearers (wearing forest-garlands)
• वनमालाधरैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वनमालाधर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• बलम्: strength; force; army
• बलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशमग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• his army/force (balam)
• puruṣavyāghra (heroic men)
• vanamālā (forest garlands)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Strength in a righteous cause is not merely numerical; it is amplified by the quality of leaders—courageous, disciplined, and visibly committed—whose conduct and presence inspire the whole force.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes the composition and impressiveness of a force: it is supported by eminent warriors, characterized as ‘tiger-like men,’ distinguished by their forest-garlands, suggesting readiness, vigor, and a heroic bearing.