Shloka 11

अलम्बुस-वधः

The Neutralization of Alambusa

Devanagari script

राजहंसनिभं प्राप्य उष्णीषं शिथिलार्पितम्‌ | जलक्षयनिमित्त॑ वै वेष्टयामास मूर्थनि,तत्पश्चात्‌ राजहंसके समान सफेद ढीलीढाली पगड़ी लेकर माथेका जल सुखानेके लिये उसे मस्तकपर लपेट लिया

Transliteration

rājahaṃsanibhaṃ prāpya uṣṇīṣaṃ śithilārpitam | jalakṣayanimittaṃ vai veṣṭayāmāsa mūrdhani ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ରାଜହଂସ ସଦୃଶ ଧଳା, ଢିଲାଭାବେ ଗଠିତ ପଗଡ଼ି ପାଇ ସେ ଜଳ ଶୁଖାଇବା ପାଇଁ ତାହାକୁ ମସ୍ତକରେ ଲପେଟିଲେ। ଯୁଦ୍ଧମଧ୍ୟରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଏହି ସରଳ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଧୈର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଓ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତି ଫେରାଇଲା।

Word by Word

• राजहंसनिभम्: swan-like (resembling a royal swan)
• राजहंसनिभम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजहंस-निभ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• उष्णीषम्: turban, head-wrap
• उष्णीषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्णीष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शिथिलार्पितम्: loosely placed/put on
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिथिल-आर्पित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• जलक्षयनिमित्तम्: for the purpose of drying off water
• जलक्षयनिमित्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल-क्षय-निमित्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वै: indeed, surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• वेष्टयामास: wrapped (he wrapped)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट्
• Form: लिट् (periphrastic perfect), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada, perfect (periphrastic)

• मूर्धनि: on (his) head
• मूर्धनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• uṣṇīṣa (turban/head-wrap)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a violent and chaotic setting, disciplined attention to small necessities—drying oneself, arranging one’s attire—supports steadiness of mind and preparedness; restraint and composure can be as crucial as force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes a person taking a loosely arranged, swan-white turban and wrapping it around the head specifically to dry off water, a brief practical interlude within the larger war narrative.