Shloka 9

Devanagari script

उरसा धारयन्‌ निष्कमग्निमालां यथाचल: । तस्य हेममयं चित्र बहुरूपाज्शशोभितम्‌

Transliteration

urasā dhārayan niṣkam agnimālāṃ yathācalaḥ | tasya hemamayaṃ citraṃ bahurūpāś ca śobhitam ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Bearing upon his chest a radiant garland of fire, he stood unmoving like a mountain. Upon him there shone a wondrous golden adornment, splendid with many forms—an awe-inspiring sign of power amid the turmoil of war.

Word by Word

• उरसा: with (his) chest
• उरसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• धारयन्: bearing/holding
• धारयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ
• Form: Present active participle (Parasmaipada), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निष्कम्: a gold ornament/torc (niṣka)
• निष्कम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्क
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अग्निमालाम्: a garland like fire / fiery garland
• अग्निमालाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निमाला
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• यथा: as/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• अचलः: a mountain
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्य: of him/of that
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• हेममयम्: made of gold
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेममय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• चित्रम्: variegated/wondrous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• बहुरूपैः: with many forms/varieties
• बहुरूपैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुरूप
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शशोभितम्: adorned/beautified
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्
• Form: Past passive participle (kta) with preverb सम् (assimilated to शशोभितम्), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• niṣka (gold ornament)
• agnimālā (fiery garland)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadiness and fearlessness under pressure: the warrior’s unmoving posture ‘like a mountain’ and blazing adornments symbolize inner resolve and formidable presence, reminding that in dharmic conflict, composure and courage are central kṣatriya virtues.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a combatant’s appearance on the battlefield: he bears a radiant, fire-like garland and gleams with golden, multi-formed ornaments, standing firm and immovable—an image meant to convey power, splendor, and intimidation amid the fighting.