Shloka 18

Devanagari script

कवचानां विचित्राणां भूषणानां प्रभास्तथा । खं दिश: प्रदिशश्वैव भासयामासुरोजसा,वे तथा विचित्र कवचों और आभूषणोंके प्रभा-समूह आकाश, दिशा एवं कोणोंको अपने तेजसे प्रकाशित कर रहे थे

Transliteration

kavacānāṃ vicitrāṇāṃ bhūṣaṇānāṃ prabhās tathā | khaṃ diśaḥ pradiśaś caiva bhāsayāmāsur ojasā ||

Translation

Sañjaya disse: A radiância das armaduras multicoloridas e dos ornamentos irrompeu com tal vigor que iluminou o céu, as direções e os quadrantes intermediários com o seu próprio esplendor.

Word by Word

कवचानाम्of armours

विचित्राणाम्variegated, wonderful

भूषणानाम्of ornaments

प्रभाःsplendours, radiances

तथाalso, likewise

खम्the sky

दिशःthe directions

प्रदिशःthe intermediate directions (quarters)

चand

एवindeed, just

भासयामासुःthey illuminated, caused to shine

ओजसाby (their) power/energy

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

armours (kavacāni)

ornaments (bhūṣaṇāni)

sky (kham)

directions (diśaḥ)

intermediate quarters (pradiśaḥ)

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 a recurring Mahābhārata contrast: the dazzling external glory of war (armour and ornaments) can beautify the scene even while it leads to suffering. It invites reflection on how appearances and martial splendour may mask the grave ethical cost of conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing the battlefield: the warriors’ colourful armours and ornaments shine so intensely that they seem to illuminate the sky and all directions, conveying the scale, preparedness, and dramatic atmosphere of the armies assembled for combat.