Shloka 39

Indrajit’s Binding, Restoration by Viśalyā, and Counsel Restraining Rāvaṇa (Āraṇyaka Parva 273)

Devanagari script

सहस्रमिव तिग्मांशुसंघातममितद्युतिम्‌ । कुन्देन्दुहारगोक्षीरमृणालकुमुदप्रभम्‌

Transliteration

sahasram iva tigmāṁśu-saṅghātam amita-dyutim | kundendu-hāra-go-kṣīra-mṛṇāla-kumuda-prabham ||

Translation

அவர் அளவிலா ஒளியால் எரிந்தார்—ஆயிரம் கூர்கதிர் சூரியர்கள் ஒன்றுகூடியதுபோல்; ஆயினும் அழகும் தூய்மையும் கொண்ட மென்மையான வெண்மையில் குந்தமலர், நிலா, முத்துமாலை, பசும்பால், தாமரைநார், வெண்குமுதம் போன்ற ஒளியால் பிரகாசித்தார்.

Word by Word

सहस्रम्a thousand

इवlike, as if

तिग्मांशु-संघातम्a mass/cluster of sharp-rayed (sun)beams

अमित-द्युतिम्of immeasurable splendor

कुन्द-इन्दु-हार-गोक्षीर-मृणाल-कुमुद-प्रभम्having the radiance of kunda-flowers, the moon, a pearl-necklace, cow-milk, lotus-fibres, and white lotuses

Speaker

भीमसेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīmasena

Sun (tigmāṁśu)

Moon (indu)

jasmine (kunda)

garland/necklace (hāra)

cow’s milk (go-kṣīra)

lotus-fibre (mṛṇāla)

white water-lily (kumuda)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses contrasting similes—overwhelming solar brilliance and gentle lunar-white purity—to convey that true greatness can unite power with auspiciousness and inner purity; radiance is not merely force but also a sign of elevated, beneficent presence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma is describing a figure he has seen, emphasizing an extraordinary appearance: immeasurable splendour like a thousand suns, yet visually pleasing and pure like white, auspicious substances (jasmine, moon, milk, lotus-fibre, white lily), indicating awe and reverence in his report.