Shloka 21

Devanagari script

शातकौम्या स्रजा भाति कवचेन च भास्वता । अग्निनेव गिरि: श्वेतो गतासुरपि दुःसह:,यद्यपि दुःसहके प्राण चले गये हैं तो भी वह सोनेकी माला और तेजस्वी कवचसे सुशोभित हो अग्नियुक्त श्वेत पर्वतके समान जान पड़ता है

Transliteration

śātakaumyā srajā bhāti kavacena ca bhāsvatā | agninā iva giriḥ śveto gatāsur api duḥsahaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Even though Duḥsaha’s life-breath had departed, he still appeared splendid—adorned with a golden garland and a radiant coat of mail—like a white mountain lit by fire. The verse underscores the tragic irony of war: outward glory and martial ornament remain, while the inner life is gone.

Word by Word

शातकौम्याwith a golden (made of gold)

स्रजाwith a garland

भातिshines/appears

कवचेनwith armor

चand

भास्वताshining, radiant

अग्निनाwith fire

इवlike, as if

गिरिःmountain

श्वेतःwhite

गतासुःwhose life has gone (dead)

अपिeven, although

दुःसहःhard to endure, formidable

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Duḥsaha

golden garland (sraj)

armor (kavaca)

fire (agni)

white mountain (śveta giri)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the contrast between external splendor and the loss of life: war leaves behind impressive forms—armor, ornaments, heroic appearance—yet the essential reality is death. It invites reflection on impermanence and the cost of martial glory.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes the fallen Duḥsaha on the battlefield. Though dead, he still looks magnificent due to his golden garland and shining armor, compared to a white mountain blazing with fire.