Shloka 18
गदायुद्ध-समारम्भः
Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings
जटामण्डलसंवीत: स्वर्णचीरो महातपा:,राजन्! महातपस्वी नारद जटामण्डलसे मण्डित हो सुनहरा चीर धारण किये हुए थे। उन्होंने कमण्डलु, सोनेका दण्ड तथा सुखदायक शब्द करनेवाली कच्छपी नामक मनोरम वीणा भी ले रखी थी
jaṭāmaṇḍalasaṃvītaḥ svarṇacīro mahātapā | rājan mahātapassvī nāradaḥ jaṭāmaṇḍalena maṇḍito hiraṇmayaṃ cīraṃ dhārayām āsa | sa kamaṇḍaluṃ suvarṇadaṇḍaṃ ca sukhadaśabdaṃ karoti yā kaccchapī nāma manoramāṃ vīṇām api gṛhītvā ājagāma ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Raja, pertapa agung Nārada menampakkan diri, berhias lingkaran rambut gimbal dan mengenakan busana keemasan yang berkilau. Ia membawa kamandalu dan tongkat emas, serta memanggul vīṇā menawan bernama Kacchapī yang bernada lembut dan menenteramkan—tanda seorang resi yang hadir untuk memberi nasihat, menegakkan pengendalian diri, dan menuntun pada pertanda baik di tengah hiruk-pikuk perang.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral authority of tapas (austerity) and disciplined living: Nārada’s ascetic marks (jaṭā, kamaṇḍalu, daṇḍa) and his soothing vīṇā symbolize guidance that steadies minds and recalls dharma, especially when society is shaken by conflict.
Vaiśampāyana describes Nārada’s arrival and appearance—his ascetic adornment, golden attire, and the objects he carries (water-pot, golden staff, and the Kacchapī vīṇā)—preparing the listener for the sage’s role as a messenger/counselor within the events of the Shalya Parva.