Shloka 22

Devanagari script

जिसकी धार सुन्दर एवं पतली है, जिसकी म्यान विचित्र और मूठ सोनेकी है, वह तीस अंगुलसे बड़ा सर्वोत्तम खड्ग परम बुद्धिमान्‌ कुरुनन्दन धर्मराजका है ।। यस्तु पाउचनखे कोशे निहितक्रित्रयोधने । नकुलस्यैष निस्त्रिंशो गुरुभारसहो दृढ:

Transliteration

yas tu pāñcanakhe kośe nihitaḥ kṛttrayodhane | nakulasya eṣa nistriṁśo gurubhārasaho dṛḍhaḥ ||

Translation

ウッタラは言った。「五つの爪で留めるかのような留め具のある鞘に収められ、戦のために備え置かれたその剣こそ、ナクラの刃である。堅固にして強く、重き負荷にも耐えうる。」武具を指し示すこの場面で、ウッタラはパーンダヴァたちの規律ある備えを語っている。武器は一つ一つ丁重に保たれ、正しき持ち主に帰せられ、秩序と責任、そして正義の戦いへの準備を映し出すのである。

Word by Word

यःwho/which

तुbut/indeed

पाञ्चनखेin/within the (case) marked with five nails (ornamented with five studs)

कोशेin the sheath/scabbard

निहितःplaced/kept

कृत्रिमयोधनेin the artificial/constructed battle (i.e., mock-fight/arena)

नकुलस्यof Nakula

एषःthis

निस्त्रिंशःsword

गुरुभारसहःable to bear heavy weight/strain

दृढःfirm/strong

Speaker

उत्तर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Uttara

Nakula

nistriṁśa (sword)

kośa (scabbard)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a context of impending violence, dharmic conduct emphasizes discipline, rightful ownership, and preparedness: weapons are not symbols of chaos but tools held responsibly, to be used only when duty requires.

What is happening in the narrative?

Uttara is identifying the hidden weapons of the Pāṇḍavas. In this verse he points out a particular sword—kept in a specially fastened scabbard and ready for combat—and states that it belongs to Nakula, describing its strength and durability.