Shloka 14

त्रिगर्त-मात्स्य-संग्रामः

The Trigarta–Matsya Engagement at Twilight

Devanagari script

अभेद्यकल्पं मत्स्यानां राजा कवचमाहरत्‌ । उत्सेथे यस्य पद्मानि शतं सौगन्धिकानि च

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | abhedyakalpaṁ matsyānāṁ rājā kavacam āharat | utsethe yasya padmāni śataṁ saugandhikāni ca |

Translation

वैशम्पायन उवाच— अभेद्यकल्पं मत्स्यानां राजा कवचमाहरत्; उत्सेधे यस्य पद्मानि शतं सौगन्धिकानि च।

Word by Word

• अभेद्यकल्पम्: as if unbreakable/impregnable
• अभेद्यकल्पम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभेद्यकल्प
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मत्स्यानाम्: of the Matsyas
• मत्स्यानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कवचम्: armor
• कवचम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आहरत्: brought/took (for use)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हृ
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• उत्सेथे: on the raised part/upper surface (of it)
• उत्सेथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्सेथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• यस्य: of which/whose
• यस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• पद्मानि: lotuses
• पद्मानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Visheshana
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: शत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सौगन्धिकानि: fragrant (saugandhika-type)
• सौगन्धिकानि: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौगन्धिक
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

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

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Matsya (kingdom/people)
• Virāṭa (king of Matsya)
• kavaca (armor)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.