Shloka 15

Pātāla-varṇana (Nārada’s Description of the Netherworld) / पातालवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

एतानि हृतराज्यानां दैतेयानां सम मातले | दीप्यमानानि दृश्यन्ते सर्वप्रहरणान्युत,मातले! जिनके राज्य छीन लिये गये हैं, उन दैत्योंके ये देदीप्यमान सम्पूर्ण आयुध दिखायी देते हैं

Transliteration

etāni hṛtarājyānāṃ daiteyānāṃ sama mātale | dīpyamānāni dṛśyante sarvapraharaṇāny uta ||

Translation

కణ్వుడు పలికెను—ఓ మాతలి! రాజ్యాలు హరించబడిన దైత్యుల ఈ సమస్త ఆయుధాలను చూడు; ఇవి తమ స్వతేజంతోనే దగ్ధమవుతున్నట్లుగా ప్రకాశిస్తున్నాయి।

Word by Word

एतानिthese

हृतराज्यानाम्of those whose kingdom has been taken away

दैतेयानाम्of the Daityas (demons)

सम्together; completely

मातलेO Mātali

दीप्यमानानिshining, blazing

दृश्यन्तेare seen; appear

सर्वप्रहरणानिall weapons

उतand; also

मातलेO Mātali

Speaker

कण्व उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kaṇva

Mātali

Daityas

Weapons (praharaṇa)

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 highlights how the loss of rightful sovereignty can intensify hostility and readiness for violence: dispossessed powers still retain (and display) formidable means of harm. Ethically, it warns that injustice and seizure of kingdoms can fuel enduring conflict rather than peace.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kaṇva points out to Mātali that the Daityas who have been deprived of their realms possess a complete array of weapons, visibly blazing—signaling their preparedness and the looming danger of confrontation.