Shloka 20

Devanagari script

आपीडकेयूरवराड्रदानि ग्रैवैयनिष्का: ससुवर्णसूत्रा:

Transliteration

āpīḍakeyūravarāḍradāni graivaiyanīṣkāḥ sa-suvarṇasūtrāḥ

Translation

ಶಲ್ಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಆಪೀಡಗಳು (ಶಿರೋಭೂಷಣಗಳು), ಕೇಯೂರಗಳು (ಬಾಹುಬಂಧಗಳು) ಮುಂತಾದ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಆಭರಣಗಳು; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಚಿನ್ನದ ದಾರದಿಂದ ನೆಯ್ದ ಹಾರಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ನಿಷ್ಕಗಳು—ಇಂತಹ ವೈಭವಚಿಹ್ನಗಳೂ ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಬಿದ್ದಿದ್ದವು; ಯುದ್ಧದ ಹೊರಗಿನ ಕೀರ್ತಿಯ ಹಿಂದೆ ಇರುವ ಒಳಗಿನ ಬೆಲೆಯನ್ನು ಅವು ನೆನಪಿಸುತ್ತವೆ.

Word by Word

आपीडdiadems, head-ornaments

केयूरarmlets

वरexcellent, splendid

आर्द्रदानिmoistened/wet (with blood/sweat)

ग्रैवेयneck-ornaments

निष्काःgold ornaments/coins (nishkas)

सwith

सुवर्णgolden (gold)

सूत्राःthreads, strings

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śalya

diadem (āpīḍa)

armlet (keyūra)

necklace (graiveya)

gold ornament (nīṣka)

golden thread (suvarṇasūtra)

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?

The verse highlights the allure of external splendor—royal and martial ornaments—implicitly reminding that such visible glory can mask the deeper moral weight of war, where pride and display do not prevent suffering or accountability.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya is describing (or pointing to) the warriors’ magnificent adornments—diadems, armlets, and gold-threaded necklaces—painting a vivid battlefield or courtly scene where martial prestige is emphasized.