Shloka 23
त्रिगर्त-मात्स्य-संग्रामः
The Trigarta–Matsya Engagement at Twilight
प्रतिमुञ्चन्तु गात्रेषु दीयन्तामायुधानि च । वीराज़रूपा: पुरुषा नागराजकरोपमा:
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
pratimun̄cantu gātreṣu dīyantām āyudhāni ca |
vīrājarūpāḥ puruṣā nāgarājakaropamāḥ ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Kenakanlah baju zirah pada tubuh mereka, dan berikan pula senjata kepada mereka. Orang-orang ini tampak benar-benar berwujud para kesatria; lengan mereka laksana belalai perkasa gajah raja.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of readiness and disciplined preparation: those who are to act in a martial role should be properly equipped, and their outward bearing should match the responsibilities they are about to undertake.
In the Virāṭa episode, instructions are being given to outfit certain men for battle—having them put on protective gear and receive weapons—while describing their heroic build, especially their powerful arms likened to those of great elephants.