Shloka 19
गदायुद्ध-समारम्भः
Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings
हेमदण्डथरो राजन् कमण्डलुधरस्तथा । कच्छपीं सुखशब्दां तां गृह्द वीणां मनोरमाम्
hemadaṇḍadharo rājan kamaṇḍaludharas tathā | kacchapīṃ sukhaśabdāṃ tāṃ gṛhītvā vīṇāṃ manoramām ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O Hari, nagpakita ang dakilang asceta na si Nārada na may hawak na ginintuang tungkod at kamaṇḍalu; at tangan din niya ang kaaya-ayang vīṇā na tinatawag na Kacchapī, na ang tunog ay nakalulugod.” Ipinahihiwatig ng tagpong ito ang bigat ng kapangyarihan ng isang pantas: ang disiplina ng espiritu at ang sagradong musika ay kapwa tanda ng payong magpapatatag ng isip sa gitna ng kaguluhan ng digmaan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and spiritual authority of a rishi: Nārada’s ascetic emblems (kamaṇḍalu, staff) and his sacred music (vīṇā) signify guidance rooted in tapas and dharma—meant to calm, instruct, and reorient conduct even in a war-driven setting.
Vaiśampāyana describes Nārada’s appearance before the king: he arrives as a great ascetic carrying a golden staff and water-pot, and holding the melodious vīṇā named Kacchapī—an introduction that typically precedes counsel, prophecy, or ethical instruction.