Shloka 18

Svargārohaṇa-parva Adhyāya 5 — Karmaphala-Nirdeśa and Phalāśruti (कर्मफलनिर्देशः फलश्रुतिश्च)

Devanagari script

वर्चा नाम महातेजा: सोमपुत्र: प्रतापवान्‌

Transliteration

varcā nāma mahātejāḥ somaputraḥ pratāpavān

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: There was a mighty, radiant being named Varcā—valiant and powerful—who was the son of Soma. The narration highlights noble lineage and innate splendor as signs of destined strength and merit.

Word by Word

• वर्चा: Varchā (a proper name)
• वर्चा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नाम: by name / named
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• महातेजाः: of great splendor/energy
• महातेजाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महातेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सोमपुत्रः: son of Soma (the Moon)
• सोमपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमपुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतापवान्: mighty/valorous
• प्रतापवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतापवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Varcā
• Soma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how inner brilliance (tejas) and valor (pratāpa) are presented as natural endowments linked with noble or divine origin, suggesting that character and destiny are often framed through lineage and inherent qualities in the epic’s moral imagination.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator Vaiśampāyana introduces a figure named Varcā, describing him as highly radiant and powerful, and identifies him as the son of Soma, thereby situating him within a divine genealogy and preparing the listener for his significance in the unfolding account.