Shloka 19
गदायुद्ध-समारम्भः
Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings
हेमदण्डथरो राजन् कमण्डलुधरस्तथा । कच्छपीं सुखशब्दां तां गृह्द वीणां मनोरमाम्
hemadaṇḍadharo rājan kamaṇḍaludharas tathā | kacchapīṃ sukhaśabdāṃ tāṃ gṛhītvā vīṇāṃ manoramām ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Raja, pertapa agung Nārada muncul dengan membawa tongkat emas dan kamaṇḍalu; dan dia juga memegang vīṇā yang indah bernama Kacchapī, yang bunyinya menyenangkan.” Adegan ini menegaskan wibawa seorang resi: disiplin rohani dan muzik suci bersama-sama menjadi tanda nasihat yang menenangkan jiwa di tengah huru-hara perang.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and spiritual authority of a rishi: Nārada’s ascetic emblems (kamaṇḍalu, staff) and his sacred music (vīṇā) signify guidance rooted in tapas and dharma—meant to calm, instruct, and reorient conduct even in a war-driven setting.
Vaiśampāyana describes Nārada’s appearance before the king: he arrives as a great ascetic carrying a golden staff and water-pot, and holding the melodious vīṇā named Kacchapī—an introduction that typically precedes counsel, prophecy, or ethical instruction.