Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 63

Kārttikeya-Abhiṣecana: Mātṛgaṇa-Nāma Saṃkīrtana and Skanda’s Commission

Devanagari script

उदाराक्षो रथाक्षश्न वज्ञनाभो वसुप्रभ: । समुद्रवेगो राजेन्द्र शैलकम्पी तथैव च

Transliteration

udārākṣo rathākṣaś ca vajranābho vasuprabhaḥ | samudravego rājendra śailakampī tathaiva ca ||

Translation

ਵੈਸ਼ੰਪਾਯਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ— ਹੇ ਰਾਜੇਂਦ੍ਰ! (ਉੱਥੇ) ਉਦਾਰਾਕ੍ਸ਼, ਰਥਾਕ੍ਸ਼, ਵਜ੍ਰਨਾਭ, ਵਸੁਪ੍ਰਭ; ਅਤੇ ਸਮੁਦ੍ਰਵੇਗ, ਤਥਾ ਸ਼ੈਲਕੰਪੀ (ਨਾਮ ਦੇ ਯੋਧੇ) ਸਨ।

Word by Word

• उदाराक्षः: having noble/large eyes
• उदाराक्षः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदाराक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथाक्षश्नः: destroyer of chariot-axles
• रथाक्षश्नः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथाक्षश्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वज्रनाभः: having a thunderbolt-like navel/hub
• वज्रनाभः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्रनाभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वसुप्रभः: radiant like the Vasus / richly splendid
• वसुप्रभः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वसुप्रभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समुद्रवेगः: having the speed/impetus of the ocean
• समुद्रवेगः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुद्रवेग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• शैलकम्पी: shaking mountains
• शैलकम्पी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैलकम्पिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च: and
• च: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Udārākṣa
• Rathākṣa
• Vajranābha
• Vasuprabha
• Samudravega
• Śailakampī

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse functions as a narrative catalogue: by naming warriors with power-laden epithets, it underscores how war gathers many formidable individuals, reminding the listener that martial glory is widespread and not confined to a single hero.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana continues recounting the events of the Śalya Parva by listing additional warriors present/engaged in the conflict, addressing King Janamejaya as he enumerates their names.