Shloka 20

Śalya-parva Adhyāya 34: Balarāma’s Withdrawal, Sarasvatī Pilgrimage Logistics, and Prabhāsa as Soma’s Renewal Tīrtha

Devanagari script

स बभौ राजमध्यस्थो नीलवासा: सितप्रभ:

Transliteration

sa babhau rājamadhyastho nīlavāsāḥ sitaprabhaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Standing in the midst of the kings, he shone forth—clad in blue garments and radiant with a white brilliance—his presence marking him out amid the assembled rulers in the charged atmosphere of war-counsel and conflict.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बभौ: shone/appeared
• बभौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथम, एकवचन

• राजमध्यस्थः: standing in the midst of kings
• राजमध्यस्थः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज-मध्य-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नीलवासाः: wearing blue garments
• नीलवासाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील-वासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सितप्रभः: of white radiance; shining white
• सितप्रभः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित-प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• kings (rājānaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how inner stature and role in a critical moment are conveyed through outward presence: in a royal assembly shaped by dharma and conflict, a figure’s composure and radiance can signal authority, destiny, or moral weight without explicit argument.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a prominent figure positioned among the kings, distinguished by blue attire and a striking white radiance, emphasizing his visibility and significance within the gathered rulers during the events of the Shalya Parva.