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Shloka 33

कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५७

Arjuna’s targeted advance; Śalya–Karṇa dialogue; interception attempts

चन्द्रनक्षत्रभासैश्न वदनैश्वारुकुण्डलै: । क्लृप्तश्मश्रुभिरत्यर्थ वीराणां समलंकृतैः

candranakṣatrabhāsaiś ca vadanaiś cārukuṇḍalaiḥ | kḷptasmaśrubhir atyarthaṁ vīrāṇāṁ samalaṅkṛtaiḥ ||

Sañjaya said: “The warriors appeared splendidly adorned—faces shining like the moon and stars, ears graced with beautiful earrings, and their moustaches carefully trimmed—each hero richly decorated for battle.”

चन्द्रmoon
चन्द्र:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootचन्द्र
FormMasculine, Nominative/Accusative (in compound stem), Singular (compound stem)
नक्षत्रstar/constellation
नक्षत्र:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootनक्षत्र
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative (in compound stem), Singular (compound stem)
भासैःwith splendors/radiances
भासैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootभास
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
वदनैःwith faces
वदनैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवदन
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
चारुbeautiful
चारु:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootचारु
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative (in compound stem), Singular (compound stem)
कुण्डलैःwith earrings
कुण्डलैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकुण्डल
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
क्लृप्तarranged/trimmed
क्लृप्त:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootक्लृप्
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative (in compound stem), Singular (compound stem)
श्मश्रुभिःwith beards/moustaches
श्मश्रुभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootश्मश्रु
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
अत्यर्थम्exceedingly/very much
अत्यर्थम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअत्यर्थम्
वीराणाम्of heroes/warriors
वीराणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवीर
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
समलंकृतैःfully adorned
समलंकृतैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootसम् + अलंकृ
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
W
warriors (vīrāḥ)
M
moon (candra)
S
stars/constellations (nakṣatrāṇi)
E
earrings (kuṇḍalāni)
M
moustaches (śmaśru)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the Kṣatriya ideal of disciplined readiness and dignified bearing in war, while implicitly reminding that external splendor is transient amid the destructive reality of battle.

Sañjaya describes the warriors’ appearance as they stand prepared for combat—radiant faces, fine ornaments, and carefully groomed moustaches—emphasizing their martial confidence and ceremonial readiness.