Shloka 39

Varuṇābhiṣeka–Agni-anveṣaṇa–Kaubera-tīrtha

Varuṇa’s Consecration; Search for Agni; Kaubera Sacred Site

Devanagari script

परपुष्टोपमा वाक्ये तथद्धर्या धनदोपमा: । शक्रवीर्योपमा युद्धे दीप्त्या वह्विसमास्तथा,वे मीठी वाणी बोलनेमें कोयल और धनसमृद्धिमें कुबेरके समान हैं। युद्धमें इन्द्रके सदृश पराक्रम प्रकट करनेवाली तथा अग्निके समान तेजस्विनी हैं

Transliteration

parapuṣṭopamā vākye tathā dhairyā dhanadopamāḥ | śakravīryopamā yuddhe dīptyā vahnisamā tathā ||

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—వాక్యంలో అవి కోయిల వలె మధురం; ధైర్యం, సంపదలో ధనదుడు (కుబేరుడు) వలె. యుద్ధంలో శక్రుడు (ఇంద్రుడు) వలె వీర్యం చూపుతాయి; కాంతిలో అగ్నివలె ప్రకాశిస్తాయి.

Word by Word

परपुष्टोपमाhaving a simile to the cuckoo (sweet-voiced)

वाक्येin speech / in words

तथाlikewise

अद्धर्याvery sweet / pleasant (in speech)

धनदोपमाhaving a simile to Kubera (wealthy)

शक्रवीर्योपमाhaving prowess like Indra

युद्धेin battle

दीप्त्याby brilliance / with radiance

वह्निसमाequal to fire (in splendor)

तथाalso / likewise

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Parapuṣṭa (cuckoo/koel)

Dhanada (Kubera)

Śakra (Indra)

Vahni (Fire/Agni)

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: refined, pleasing speech should coexist with inner firmness, heroic capacity in crisis, and a radiant moral presence. It suggests that true excellence is multi-dimensional—gentle in expression yet strong and effective in action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing and praising a notable figure (implicitly a woman, as reflected in the Hindi gloss) through a chain of similes—cuckoo for sweetness of speech, Kubera for steadfast richness, Indra for battle prowess, and fire for brilliance—highlighting her exceptional qualities within the war-time context of the Śalya Parva.