Shloka 20

धृतराष्ट्रविलापः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament and Inquiry (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 2)

Devanagari script

जलसन्धो<थार्ष्यशृज्जी राक्षसश्वाप्पलायुध: । अलनम्बुषो महाबाहु: सुबाहुश्च महारथ:

Transliteration

jalasandho ’thārṣyaśṛṅgī rākṣasaś cāpy alāyudhaḥ | alanambuṣo mahābāhuḥ subāhuś ca mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Jalasandha; Ārṣyaśṛṅgī; juga rākṣasa Alāyudha; Alanambuṣa yang berlengan perkasa; dan Subāhu, seorang maharathi—mereka ini pun hadir dalam kalangan para pejuang.”

Word by Word

जलसन्धःJalasandha (name of a warrior)

अथthen/and now

आर्ष्यशृङ्गीĀrṣyaśṛṅgī (name of a warrior)

राक्षसःthe Rākṣasa (demon) (named warrior)

चand

अप्पलायुधःAppalāyudha (name of a warrior)

अलनम्बुषःAlanambuṣa (name of a warrior)

महाबाहुःmighty-armed

सुबाहुःSubāhu (name of a warrior; lit. 'having good arms')

चand

महारथःgreat chariot-warrior

Speaker

धघतयाट्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Jalasandha

Ārṣyaśṛṅgī

Alāyudha

Alanambuṣa

Subāhu

Rākṣasa

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 has no direct doctrinal instruction; its ethical force lies in showing the vast, indiscriminate mobilization of power in war—so many mighty figures are named that the listener senses how conflict expands beyond restraint, increasing collective responsibility and the tragedy of destruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra (as narrator) continues listing notable fighters present in the battle context of the Śalya Parva, naming several powerful warriors, including a rākṣasa (Alāyudha), to emphasize the formidable composition of the forces.