Shloka 63

Kārttikeya-Abhiṣecana: Mātṛgaṇa-Nāma Saṃkīrtana and Skanda’s Commission

Devanagari script

उदाराक्षो रथाक्षश्न वज्ञनाभो वसुप्रभ: । समुद्रवेगो राजेन्द्र शैलकम्पी तथैव च

Transliteration

udārākṣo rathākṣaś ca vajranābho vasuprabhaḥ | samudravego rājendra śailakampī tathaiva ca ||

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു— ഹേ രാജേന്ദ്രാ! (അവിടെ) ഉദാരാക്ഷ, രഥാക്ഷ, വജ്രനാഭ, വസുപ്രഭ; കൂടാതെ സമുദ്രവേഗയും അതുപോലെ ശൈലകമ്പിയും (എന്ന പേരിലുള്ളവർ) ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

उदाराक्षःhaving noble/large eyes

रथाक्षश्नःdestroyer of chariot-axles

वज्रनाभःhaving a thunderbolt-like navel/hub

वसुप्रभःradiant like the Vasus / richly splendid

समुद्रवेगःhaving the speed/impetus of the ocean

राजेन्द्रO king of kings

शैलकम्पीshaking mountains

तथाthus; likewise

एवindeed; just

चand

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Janamejaya

Udārākṣa

Rathākṣa

Vajranābha

Vasuprabha

Samudravega

Śailakampī

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 functions as a narrative catalogue: by naming warriors with power-laden epithets, it underscores how war gathers many formidable individuals, reminding the listener that martial glory is widespread and not confined to a single hero.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana continues recounting the events of the Śalya Parva by listing additional warriors present/engaged in the conflict, addressing King Janamejaya as he enumerates their names.