Shloka 4

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 65 — Duḥśāsana’s Elephant Corps Engages Arjuna; Retreat to the Śakaṭa-vyūha

Devanagari script

हिरण्यकवचा: सर्वे सर्वे चोत्तमधन्विन: । सर्वेडश्चवमेधैरीजाना: कुमारा: शशबिन्दव:,शशबिन्दुके उन सभी पुत्रोंने सोनेके कवच धारण कर रखे थे। वे सब उत्तम धनुर्धर थे और अश्वमेध-यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान कर चुके थे

Transliteration

hiraṇyakavacāḥ sarve sarve cottamadhanvinaḥ | sarve daśāśvamedhair ijānāḥ kumārāḥ śaśabindavaḥ ||

Translation

Semua putra Śaśabindu mengenakan zirah emas; masing-masing adalah pemanah ulung, dan semuanya telah melaksanakan banyak yajña Aśvamedha.

Word by Word

हिरण्यकवचाःhaving golden armor

सर्वेall

चand

उत्तमधन्विनःexcellent bowmen

सर्वेall

दश्चten (and)

चand

अश्वमेधैःby/with Ashvamedha sacrifices

ईजानाःhaving performed (sacrifices)

कुमाराःprinces/sons

शशबिन्दवःthe Shashabindu-s (descendants/sons of Shashabindu)

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Śaśabindu

sons of Śaśabindu (princes)

golden armor (hiraṇya-kavaca)

bow (implied by dhanvin)

Aśvamedha sacrifice

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the height of worldly excellence—wealth (golden armor), skill (supreme archery), and ritual prestige (multiple Aśvamedhas)—while implicitly reminding that such attainments are not identical with dharma; ethical rightness and the outcomes of war are not secured merely by power or sacrifice.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is describing the princes who are the sons of Śaśabindu: they are magnificently equipped, renowned archers, and celebrated for having performed many royal sacrifices, establishing their status and formidable presence within the broader war narrative.