Shloka 15

Devanagari script

तमस्मै शड्खमाहार्षीद्‌ वारुणं कलशोदधि: । शैक्यं निष्कसहस्रेण सुकृतं विश्वकर्मणा

Transliteration

tam asmai śaṅkham āhārṣīd vāruṇaṃ kalaśodadhiḥ | śaikyaṃ niṣkasahasreṇa sukṛtaṃ viśvakarmaṇā ||

Translation

ତାଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସମୁଦ୍ର—ବରୁଣଙ୍କ ଜଳନିଧିର ଭଣ୍ଡାର—ଏକ ଶଙ୍ଖ ଆଣିଦେଲା। ସେ ଶଙ୍ଖ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଶୋଭନ ଓ ସୁନିର୍ମିତ; ବିଶ୍ୱକର୍ମାଙ୍କ ନିର୍ମାଣ, ଏବଂ ତାହାର ମୂଲ୍ୟ ଥିଲା ହଜାର ନିଷ୍କ।

Word by Word

तम्him

तस्मैto him

शङ्खम्conch

आहार्षीत्brought / presented

वारुणम्of Varuṇa; Varuṇa-related

कलश-उदधिःthe ocean (as a jar/treasure-holder); the ocean

शैक्यम्a sword (śaikya)

निष्क-सहस्रेणwith a thousand niṣkas (gold pieces)

सुकृतम्well-made

विश्वकर्मणाby Viśvakarman

Speaker

दुर्योधन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Duryodhana

Varuṇa

Udadhि (Ocean)

Viśvakarman

Śaṅkha (conch)

Niṣka (gold unit/ornament)

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 highlights how material magnificence—especially when framed as divinely sourced and expertly crafted—can be used to legitimize status and intensify attachment to power. Ethically, it invites reflection on the difference between true worth (dharma, character) and the allure of prestige objects.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Duryodhana’s narration, a remarkable conch is presented: the Ocean brings a Varuṇa-associated conch, exquisitely made by Viśvakarman and said to be worth a thousand niṣkas, emphasizing extraordinary wealth and splendor connected with royal or heroic possession.