Shloka 4

अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)

Devanagari script

विचित्राभरणा: सर्वे विचित्ररथवाहना: । विचित्रस्रग्धरा: सर्वे विचित्राम्बर भूषणा:

Transliteration

vaicitrābharaṇāḥ sarve vaicitrarathavāhanāḥ | vaicitrasragdharāḥ sarve vaicitrāmbarabhūṣaṇāḥ ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。彼らは皆、きらびやかで色とりどりの装身具を身にまとい、戦車と乗騎もまた多様で目を奪うものばかりであった。誰もが多彩な花鬘を首に掛け、並外れた衣と飾りで身を飾っていた。その光景は大軍の武威の行列を示す――外なる輝きと規律ある示威は戦への備えを告げるが、同時に、その壮麗さがやがて露わになる重い倫理的選択の、ただ表層にすぎぬことを静かに思い起こさせるのである。

Word by Word

• विचित्राभरणाः: having variegated ornaments
• विचित्राभरणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र-आभरण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विचित्ररथवाहनाः: having diverse chariots and mounts/vehicles
• विचित्ररथवाहनाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र-रथ-वाहन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विचित्रस्रग्धराः: wearing variegated garlands
• विचित्रस्रग्धराः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र-स्रग्धर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विचित्राम्बरभूषणाः: with wondrous garments and ornaments
• विचित्राम्बरभूषणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र-अम्बर-भूषण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वैशम्पायन (Vaiśampāyana)
• रथ (chariots)
• वाहन (mounts/vehicles)
• आभरण (ornaments)
• स्रग् (garlands)
• अम्बर (garments)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the dazzling external signs of martial power—ornaments, garments, chariots, and mounts—hinting that worldly splendor and military readiness do not by themselves resolve the deeper dharmic questions that war raises. It sets a contrast between appearance (pageantry) and the ethical weight of impending conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a gathered host of warriors as richly and variously adorned, with impressive chariots and vehicles. The narration paints the visual grandeur of an army’s assembly and preparation, emphasizing the scale and magnificence of the forces being marshaled.