Shloka 15

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 42 — Duryodhana’s counsel to Bhīṣma on ajñātavāsa risk and raid strategy

Devanagari script

कस्य हेममये कोशे सुतप्ते पावकप्रभे

Transliteration

kasya hemamaye kośe sutapte pāvakaprabhe

Translation

उत्तरा बोला—यह किसके स्वर्णमय म्यान में है, जो तप्त होकर अग्नि-प्रभा के समान दहक रहा है?

Word by Word

• कस्य: of whom/whose
• कस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• हेममये: in the golden (made of gold)
• हेममये: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेममय
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• कोशे: in the sheath/case
• कोशे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सुतप्ते: well-heated, thoroughly heated
• सुतप्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-तप्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• पावकप्रभे: in/with fire-like radiance
• पावकप्रभे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावक-प्रभ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

उत्तर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Uttara
• golden sheath (hemamaya kośa)
• fire (pāvaka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights prudent inquiry before action: in a martial context, one should understand the ownership and nature of powerful weapons rather than acting rashly—an ethical posture of caution and responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Uttara is questioning the identity/ownership of a weapon described as being in a golden sheath that glows like fire, reflecting awe and uncertainty amid the preparations and tensions of the Virata Parva’s battle episode.