Shloka 15

त्रिगर्त-मात्स्य-संग्रामः

The Trigarta–Matsya Engagement at Twilight

Devanagari script

सुवर्णपृष्ठं सूर्याभं सूर्यदत्तो5भ्यहारयत्‌ । दृढ्मायसगर्भ च श्षेतं वर्म शताक्षिमत्‌

Transliteration

suvarṇapṛṣṭhaṃ sūryābhaṃ sūryadatto 'bhyahārayat | dṛḍham āyasagarbhaṃ ca śvetaṃ varma śatākṣimat ||

Translation

वैशंपायन म्हणाले— सूर्यदत्ताने एक श्वेत कवच आणले; त्याचा पृष्ठभाग सुवर्णजटित होता आणि ते सूर्याप्रमाणे तेजस्वी होते. ते दृढ होते, आतून लोहमय होते आणि वर नेत्रांसारख्या शंभर चिन्हांनी युक्त होते.

Word by Word

suvarṇa-pṛṣṭhamgold-backed / having a golden surface

sūryābhamsun-like in splendor

sūryadattaḥSūryadatta (proper name)

abhyāhārayatbrought / fetched / carried (towards)

dṛḍha-māyasa-garbhamhaving a firm iron core / iron-lined within

caand

śvetamwhite

varmaarmor / cuirass

śatākṣimathaving a hundred 'eyes' (many-eyed/with many studs or apertures)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Sūryadatta

varma (armor)

Indra (Śatākṣi, implied by epithet)

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 disciplined readiness: power and protection (symbolized by radiant, strong armor) should be assumed as a duty, not for vanity—strength is ethically meaningful when aligned with rightful purpose and restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, Sūryadatta brings and presents a splendid, sturdy white armor—gold-backed, sun-bright, and iron-cored—indicating a moment of arming and preparation for impending conflict or danger.