Shloka 101

Devanagari script

सुविभक्तशरीराश्व दीप्तिमन्त: स्वलंकृता: । पिड़ाक्षा: शड्कुकर्णाश्न रक्तनासाश्न भारत,उनके शरीरके सभी अंग सुन्दर विभागपूर्वक देखे जाते थे। वे दीप्तिमान्‌ तथा वस्त्राभूषणोंसे विभूषित थे। भारत! उनके नेत्र पिंगलवर्णके थे, कान शंकुके समान जान पड़ते थे और नासिका लाल रंगकी थी

Transliteration

suvibhaktaśarīrāśvā dīptimantaḥ svalankṛtāḥ | piḍākṣāḥ śaṅkukarṇāś ca raktanāsāś ca bhārata ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: «О Бхарата, их кони были сложены соразмерно: каждый член ясно выделялся и был прекрасен. Они сияли силой и были украшены изящной сбруей. Глаза их были рыжевато-жёлтые, уши — конусообразные, а ноздри — красноватые».

Word by Word

सुविभक्तशरीराश्वाःthose (horses) whose bodies are well-proportioned

दीप्तिमन्तःradiant, shining

स्वलंकृताःwell-adorned

पिङ्गाक्षाःhaving tawny/brownish eyes

शङ्कुकर्णाःhaving cone-like ears

रक्तनासाःhaving red noses/muzzles

भारतO Bharata

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhārata (Janamejaya)

horses (aśvāḥ)

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 the epic’s attention to outward signs of strength and readiness—well-formed, radiant, well-adorned horses as markers of royal power and martial preparedness. Ethically, it underscores how resources and discipline are marshaled for war, foreshadowing the gravity of choices made in battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing the appearance and distinguishing features of the horses—symmetrical limbs, shining vigor, rich adornment, tawny eyes, conical ears, and reddish nostrils—within the Shalya Parva battle narrative context.