Shloka 18

अर्जुनस्योत्तरदिग्विजयः

Arjuna’s Northern Conquests and Tribute Collection

Devanagari script

तप्तचामीकराभेण किड्किणीजालमालिना । मेघनिर्घोषनादेन जैत्रेणामित्रधातिना

Transliteration

taptacāmīkarābheṇa kiṅkiṇījālamālinā | meghanirghoṣanādena jaitreṇāmitradhātinā ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。その戦車は灼けた黄金のように輝き、小鈴の網飾りをまとっていた。深い轟きは雷雲の重い咆哮に似る。これは凱旋の車、敵を粉砕する車—必勝のしるしである。その戦車に乗り、シュリー・クリシュナはその時旅立った。王者の華やぎと、正しき目的にかなうとき大義を守る力とを携えて。

Word by Word

• तप्त: heated, molten
• तप्त: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप् (धातु) → तप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• चामीकर: gold
• चामीकर: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चामीकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• आभेण: with splendor/shine
• आभेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• किङ्किणी: of small bells
• किङ्किणी: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: किङ्किणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• जाल: net; mesh; array
• जाल: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मालिना: with a garland/series (i.e., adorned)
• मालिना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• मेघ: of a cloud
• मेघ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• निर्घोष: of roaring; rumbling
• निर्घोष: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• नादेन: with sound
• नादेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• जैत्रेण: victorious; triumph-bringing
• जैत्रेण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अमित्र: of enemies
• अमित्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• धातिना: destroying; striking down
• धातिना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धातिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• ratha (chariot)
• kiṅkiṇī (bells)
• megha (thundercloud)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how outward magnificence (a radiant, victorious chariot) functions as a narrative symbol of strength and legitimacy: power meant to protect and prevail is portrayed as most meaningful when it serves a rightful mission rather than mere display.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a splendid, battle-worthy chariot—golden in sheen, hung with tinkling bells, thundering like clouds—and states that Kṛṣṇa rides upon it to proceed on his journey at that moment.