Shloka 14
त्रिगर्त-मात्स्य-संग्रामः
The Trigarta–Matsya Engagement at Twilight
अभेद्यकल्पं मत्स्यानां राजा कवचमाहरत् । उत्सेथे यस्य पद्मानि शतं सौगन्धिकानि च
vaiśampāyana uvāca | abhedyakalpaṁ matsyānāṁ rājā kavacam āharat | utsethe yasya padmāni śataṁ saugandhikāni ca |
ਵੈਸ਼ੰਪਾਯਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ— ਮਤਸ੍ਯਾਂ ਦੇ ਰਾਜੇ ਨੇ “ਅਭੇਦ੍ਯਕਲਪ” ਨਾਮ ਦਾ ਕਵਚ ਮੰਗਵਾਇਆ; ਉਸ ਦੇ ਉਭਰੇ ਹੋਏ ਅਲੰਕਾਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੌ ਪਦਮ-ਚਿੰਨ੍ਹ ਅਤੇ ਸੌ ਸੁਗੰਧਿਕ (ਨੀਲੋਤਪਲ) ਚਿੰਨ੍ਹ ਬਣੇ ਹੋਏ ਸਨ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic responsibility of a ruler to ensure protection and readiness. Royal power is not mere ornamentation; it is meant to safeguard the realm, and the imagery of ‘unbreakable’ armor symbolizes steadfastness and duty in the face of danger.
In the Virāṭa Parva context, the Matsya king (Virāṭa) produces a formidable armor described as nearly impenetrable, adorned with numerous lotus motifs. This underscores the mobilization and martial preparedness surrounding the events of the Virāṭa episode.