Shloka 18

त्रिगर्त-मात्स्य-संग्रामः

The Trigarta–Matsya Engagement at Twilight

Devanagari script

सूर्यचन्द्रप्रतीकाशे रथे दिव्ये हिरण्मये

Transliteration

sūryacandrapratīkāśe rathe divye hiraṇmaye

Translation

வைசம்பாயனர் கூறினார்—சூரியன், சந்திரன் போல் ஒளிவீசும் தெய்வீகமான பொன்னரதத்தில் தெய்வீகப் பிரபையின் வட்டம் சூழ்ந்தது; நிகழ்வுகளின் ஓட்டத்தில் தர்மத்தோடு இணைந்த அபூர்வ வல்லமை வருகையையோ சன்னிதியையோ அறிவிப்பதுபோல் அது தோன்றியது।

Word by Word

• सूर्यचन्द्रप्रतीकाशे: in/with (two) resembling the sun and the moon
• सूर्यचन्द्रप्रतीकाशे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य-चन्द्र-प्रतीकाश
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Dual

• रथे: in the chariot
• रथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• दिव्ये: divine
• दिव्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• हिरण्मये: golden
• हिरण्मये: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिरण्मय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• chariot (ratha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses luminous imagery—sun- and moon-like radiance and a divine golden chariot—to mark the presence of higher order and legitimacy. In Mahābhārata’s ethical world, such splendor often signals that power is not merely worldly display but is (or is presented as) aligned with dharma and auspicious purpose.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator Vaiśampāyana describes a divine, golden chariot shining like the sun and moon. This functions as a vivid scene-setting detail, highlighting the extraordinary status of the rider(s) or the moment being introduced in the Virāṭa-parvan episode.