Shloka 18

अग्निभय-प्रसङ्गे मन्दपालस्य शोकः

Mandapāla’s Lament amid the Threat of Fire

Devanagari script

प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य दैवतेभ्य: प्रणम्य च । संनद्ध:ः कवची खड्गी बद्धगोधाड्गुलित्रक:

Transliteration

pradakṣiṇam upāvṛtya daivatebhyaḥ praṇamya ca | saṃnaddhaḥ kavacī khaḍgī baddhagodhāṅgulitrakaḥ ||

Translation

Having circumambulated in reverence and bowed to the deities, he turned back, fully prepared—armoured, sword in hand, and with the protective iguana-skin guard and finger-protector fastened—signaling disciplined readiness and respect for sacred order even at the threshold of action.

Word by Word

• प्रदक्षिणम्: clockwise (in circumambulation)
• प्रदक्षिणम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रदक्षिण

• उपावृत्य: having gone around / having circumambulated
• उपावृत्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-वृत्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• दैवतेभ्यः: to the deities
• दैवतेभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवत
• Form: Neuter, Dative, Plural

• प्रणम्य: having bowed (down)
• प्रणम्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• संनद्धः: armed / equipped / girded
• संनद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सं-नह्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• कवची: wearing armor
• कवची: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कवचिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• खड्गी: bearing a sword
• खड्गी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खड्गिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बद्ध: bound / fastened
• बद्ध: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• गोधा-अङ्गुलित्रकः: a finger-guard (archer’s thumb/finger protector) made of iguana-skin
• गोधा-अङ्गुलित्रकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोधा + अङ्गुलित्रक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• daivata (deities)
• khaḍga (sword)
• kavaca (armour)
• godhā-carma (iguana hide/leather guard)
• aṅgulitraka (finger-protector)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic conduct: before undertaking demanding or potentially violent action, one aligns oneself with sacred order through reverence (pradakṣiṇā and praṇāma) and then proceeds with disciplined preparedness, not impulsiveness.

What is happening in the narrative?

A warrior figure, after respectfully circumambulating and bowing to the deities, turns back and sets out equipped for action—armour and sword ready, with protective gear (godhā-hide guard and aṅgulitraka) secured.