Shloka 22

भीष्म-पर्व अध्याय १०० — त्रिगर्त-आक्रमण, भीष्म-केन्द्रित पुनर्संयोजन, तथा शक्त्यस्त्र-विनिमय

Devanagari script

अरजोअम्बरसंवीत: सिंहखेलगतिर्नुप । शुशुभे विमलार्चिष्मान्‌ नभसीव दिवाकर:,राजन! उसके सारे अंग निर्मल वस्त्रसे ढके हुए थे। वह सिंहके समान मस्तानी चालसे चलता था और अपनी निर्मल प्रभाके कारण आकाशगमें प्रकाशित होनेवाले सूर्यके समान शोभा पा रहा था

Transliteration

arajo’mbara-saṁvītaḥ siṁha-khela-gatir nṛpa | śuśubhe vimalārcīṣmān nabhasīva divākaraḥ ||

Translation

Karna berkata: “Wahai raja, seluruh tubuhnya berselubung pakaian yang bersih tanpa noda. Dia melangkah dengan gaya singa yang angkuh lagi lincah; dan dengan sinar yang murni, dia tampak berseri seperti matahari yang menyala di langit.”

Word by Word

अरजःdustless, stainless

अम्बर-संवीतःclad in garments

सिंह-खेल-गतिःone whose gait is like a lion’s sportive movement

नृपःthe king

शुशुभेshone, was splendid

विमल-अर्चिष्मान्having pure radiance

नभसिin the sky

इवlike, as

दिवाकरःthe sun

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Karna

nṛpa (the king addressed)

divākara (the sun)

siṁha (lion)

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 uses classical omens of virtue and power—spotless clothing, lion-like gait, sun-like radiance—to suggest that inner resolve and righteous authority manifest outwardly. In epic ethics, such imagery supports the idea that a dharmic warrior’s presence inspires confidence and steadiness amid war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Karna is describing a prominent figure’s appearance on the battlefield: the person is dressed in clean garments, walks with leonine confidence, and shines like the sun in the sky—an elevated portrait meant to convey formidable, auspicious heroism.