Mahabharata 9.5.23 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 5, Shloka 23

शल्यस्य सेनापत्याभ्युपगमः | Śalya’s Acceptance of Command

Devanagari script

उपर्युपरि राज्ञां वै ज्वलित्वा भास्करो यथा

Transliteration

uparyupari rājñāṃ vai jvalitvā bhāskaro yathā

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: “Semakin tinggi dia menjulang mengatasi para raja, semakin dia menyala—laksana matahari.”

Word by Word

• उपरि: above
• उपरि: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb)

• उपरि: upon/over (again), i.e., higher and higher
• उपरि: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb); repetition for emphasis

• राज्ञाम्: of kings
• राज्ञाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै
• Form: Avyaya (emphatic particle)

• ज्वलित्वा: having blazed
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), from √ज्वल्; indeclinable verbal form

• भास्करः: the sun
• भास्करः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यथा: as/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा
• Form: Avyaya (comparative particle)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• kings (rājāḥ)
• the sun (bhāskara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how true eminence is recognized by radiance in action: in the midst of many rulers and warriors, one figure’s prowess and presence can stand out unmistakably, like the sun above lesser lights—suggesting the ethical ideal of excellence joined to visible responsibility on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, narrating events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, describes a warrior (implied from context) who rises above the assembled kings and shines brilliantly in battle, using the sun as a simile to convey overwhelming splendor and dominance.