Shloka 17

Devanagari script

शमेन तपसा चैव वीर्येण च समन्वित: । ववृधे$तीव राजेन्द्र चन्द्रवत्‌ प्रियदर्शन:,राजेन्द्र! शम, तपस्या और पराक्रमसे युक्त वह कुमार अत्यन्त वेगसे बढ़ने लगा। वह देखनेमें चन्द्रमाके समान प्रिय लगता था

Transliteration

śamena tapasā caiva vīryeṇa ca samanvitaḥ | vavṛdhe 'tīva rājendra candravat priyadarśanaḥ ||

Translation

வைசம்பாயனர் கூறினார்— அரசே! தமம், தவம், வீரியம் ஆகியவற்றால் நிறைந்த அந்த இளவரசன் மிகுந்த வேகத்துடன் வளர்ந்து செழித்தான். பார்ப்பதற்கு அவன் நிலவுபோல் இனிய தோற்றமுடையவன்.

Word by Word

शमेनby self-control/peace

तपसाby austerity/penance

चand

एवindeed/just

वीर्येणby valor/power

चand

समन्वितःendowed with/possessed of

ववृधेgrew/increased

अतीवexceedingly/very

राजेन्द्रO king of kings

चन्द्रवत्like the moon

प्रियदर्शनःpleasant to behold

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

rājendra (the king addressed—Janamejaya in the frame narrative)

candra (the Moon, as simile)

kumāra (the prince/young royal, unnamed in this verse)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents an ethical ideal for a ruler-in-training: inner restraint (śama) and disciplined effort (tapas) should accompany courage (vīrya). When these qualities mature together, a person’s growth becomes both effective and socially beneficial—earning trust and affection, symbolized by the moon-like pleasantness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a young prince’s rapid flourishing. The narration emphasizes that his development is not merely physical or martial; it is grounded in self-control and austerity, and his appearance and demeanor are portrayed as pleasing like the moon.