Shloka 11

अलम्बुस-वधः

The Neutralization of Alambusa

Devanagari script

राजहंसनिभं प्राप्य उष्णीषं शिथिलार्पितम्‌ | जलक्षयनिमित्त॑ वै वेष्टयामास मूर्थनि,तत्पश्चात्‌ राजहंसके समान सफेद ढीलीढाली पगड़ी लेकर माथेका जल सुखानेके लिये उसे मस्तकपर लपेट लिया

Transliteration

rājahaṃsanibhaṃ prāpya uṣṇīṣaṃ śithilārpitam | jalakṣayanimittaṃ vai veṣṭayāmāsa mūrdhani ||

Translation

ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ರಾಜಹಂಸದಂತೆ ಶುಭ್ರವಾದ, ಸಡಿಲವಾಗಿ ಅಳವಡಿಸಿದ ಉಷ್ಣೀಷವನ್ನು ಪಡೆದು, ನೀರು ಒಣಗಿಸುವ ಸಲುವಾಗಿ ಅವನು ಅದನ್ನು ತಲೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಸುತ್ತಿಕೊಂಡನು. ಯುದ್ಧಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಈ ಸಣ್ಣ ಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಸಮಾಧಾನ ಮತ್ತು ಸಿದ್ಧತೆಯನ್ನು ಮರಳಿ ತಂದಿತು.

Word by Word

राजहंसनिभम्swan-like (resembling a royal swan)

प्राप्यhaving obtained

उष्णीषम्turban, head-wrap

शिथिलार्पितम्loosely placed/put on

जलक्षयनिमित्तम्for the purpose of drying off water

वैindeed, surely

वेष्टयामासwrapped (he wrapped)

मूर्धनिon (his) head

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sanjaya

uṣṇīṣa (turban/head-wrap)

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 violent and chaotic setting, disciplined attention to small necessities—drying oneself, arranging one’s attire—supports steadiness of mind and preparedness; restraint and composure can be as crucial as force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes a person taking a loosely arranged, swan-white turban and wrapping it around the head specifically to dry off water, a brief practical interlude within the larger war narrative.