Shloka 40

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 33 — Kuru Cattle-Raid and Matsya Mobilization (भूमिंजय-प्रेरणा)

Devanagari script

चक्ररक्षश्न शूरो वै मदिराक्षोडतिविश्रुत:

Transliteration

cakrarakṣaśna śūro vai madirākṣo 'tiviśrutaḥ

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ആ വീരൻ ‘മദിരാക്ഷ’ എന്ന നാമത്തിൽ ദൂരദൂരത്തോളം പ്രസിദ്ധനായിരുന്നു; ‘ചക്രരക്ഷശ്ന’ എന്ന പേരിലും ഖ്യാതൻ—ചക്രസദൃശ ആയുധം കാക്കുവാനും/പ്രയോഗിക്കുവാനും അതിപ്രാവീണ്യം ഉള്ളവൻ.

Word by Word

• चक्ररक्षः: the protector/guard of the wheel (chariot-wheel)
• चक्ररक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्ररक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शूरः: hero, brave man
• शूरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वै: indeed, surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• मदिराक्षः: one whose eyes are like wine; wine-eyed
• मदिराक्षः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदिराक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अतिविश्रुतः: very renowned, exceedingly famous
• अतिविश्रुतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिविश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Madirākṣa
• cakra (discus/wheel weapon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how martial excellence and public reputation function in epic ethics: a warrior’s identity is shaped by recognized skill and the duties of protection in conflict, underscoring the social weight of fame earned through valor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana briefly identifies and characterizes a warrior named Madirākṣa, emphasizing his widespread renown and associating him with a distinctive epithet connected to the cakra (discus/wheel), marking him as a notable combatant in the episode.