Shloka 82

Devanagari script

सपत्नानां मृथे हन्‍ता रविसोमसमप्रभ: । सर्वैश्षिन्निकृतिप्रज्ैरनायैरकृतात्मभि:

Transliteration

sapatnānāṁ mṛthe hantā ravisomasamaprabhaḥ | sarvaiś chinnakṛtiprajñair anāryair akṛtātmabhiḥ ||

Translation

Bṛhadaśva said: “In battle he is a slayer of rivals, radiant with a splendor like the Sun and the Moon. Yet he is surrounded by men of crooked counsel and perverted judgment—ignoble in conduct and undisciplined in spirit.”

Word by Word

सपत्नानाम्of (his) rivals/enemies

मृधेin battle

हन्ताslayer

रवि-सोम-सम-प्रभःwhose radiance is like the Sun and the Moon

सर्वैःby all

छिन्न-कृति-प्रज्ञैःby those whose judgment/understanding is cut off (perverted)

अनार्यैःby ignoble (people)

अकृतात्मभिःby the undisciplined/uncontrolled (in mind)

Speaker

बृहृदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

ब

बृहदश्व (Bṛhadaśva)

र

रवि (Sun)

स

सोम (Moon)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even if a warrior or ruler is personally powerful and radiant, association with ignoble, deceitful, and undisciplined advisers corrupts judgment and undermines dharma; character and counsel matter as much as prowess.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva describes a formidable figure—deadly in battle and shining like the Sun and Moon—while simultaneously criticizing the company around him as crooked-minded and unworthy, highlighting the moral danger of such companionship.