Shloka 11

Śalya’s Consecration as Senāpati and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira (शल्यस्य सेनापत्यभिषेकः)

Devanagari script

कान्तिरूपमुखैश्वर्यस्त्रिभिश्वन्द्रमसा समम्‌ । काजञज्चनोपलसंघातै: सदृशं श्लिष्टसंधिकम्‌

Transliteration

kāntirūpamukhaiśvaryas tribhiś candramasā samam | kāñcanopalasaṅghātaiḥ sadṛśaṃ śliṣṭasandhikam ||

Translation

சஞ்சயன் கூறினான்—ஒளி, அழகு, முகமாட்சியெனும் மூன்றிலும் அது சந்திரனை ஒத்தது. நெருக்கமாகப் பொருந்திய மூட்டுகளுடன் அதன் அமைப்பு பொன்னும் மணிகளும் சேர்ந்த திடக்கட்டியான தொகுதியைப் போன்றது.

Word by Word

कान्तिby/with splendor

रूपby/with beauty/form

मुखby/with (his) face

ऐश्वर्यैःby/with powers/majesties

त्रिभिःwith three

चन्द्रमसाwith the moon

समम्equally; like

काञ्चनोपलgolden stones (gold-like gems)

संघातैःwith heaps/masses

सदृशम्similar; resembling

श्लिष्टjoined; well-fitted

सन्धिकम्having joints; with seams

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

the moon (candramas)

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 how outward splendour—radiance, beauty, and royal majesty—can be portrayed as almost celestial; in the Mahābhārata’s war context, such imagery often underscores the contrast between dazzling appearances and the grim ethical stakes of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing an object of striking brilliance and fine construction, comparing it to the moon and to a compact assemblage of gold and gems, emphasizing its lustre and tightly fitted workmanship.