Shloka 8
Śalya’s Consecration as Senāpati and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira (शल्यस्य सेनापत्यभिषेकः)
स्वज्रं प्रच्छन्नशिरसं कम्बुग्रीवं प्रियंवदम् । व्याकोशपपक्राक्षं व्याप्रास्यं मेरुगौरवम्
svajaṃraṃ pracchannaśirasaṃ kambugrīvaṃ priyaṃvadam | vyākośapapakrakṣaṃ vyāprāsyaṃ merugauravam
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಅವನ ಶಿರಸ್ಸು ಆವರಣದಿಂದ ಮುಚ್ಚಿದಂತೆ, ಕಂಠ ಶಂಖಸಮಾನ, ವಾಣಿ ಮಧುರ; ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳು ವಿಶಾಲವಾಗಿ ತೆರೆದು ಅಶಾಂತ, ಮುಖ ಉಗ್ರ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಚ್ಚಿದಂತೆ—ಮೇರುಪರ್ವತದಂತೆ ಭಾರವೂ ಗಂಭೀರ ಮಹಿಮೆಯೂಳ್ಳವನು.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how the battlefield magnifies appearances—majesty, terror, and auspicious bodily marks—testing inner steadiness. Ethical discernment (dharma-buddhi) must not be overwhelmed by mere outward power or fearsome spectacle.
Sañjaya is describing a formidable figure seen in the war context, detailing physical traits—covered head, conch-like neck, pleasing speech, wide eyes, gaping mouth—and likening the person’s gravity and grandeur to Mount Meru.