Shloka 20
Kuru-Sainika-Āśvāsana and Vijayaghoṣaṇa
Reassuring the Kuru Soldiers; Proclaiming Victory
तीक्षणशस्त्रमहाग्राहां क्रव्यादगणसेविताम् । मुक्ताहारोरमिकलिलां चित्रालंकारबुद्बुदाम्,तीखे शस्त्र उसके भीतर बड़े-बड़े ग्राहोंके समान जान पड़ते थे। मांसभोजी जीव-जन्तु वहाँ निवास करते थे। मोतियोंकी मालाएँ लहरोंके समान जान पड़ती थीं। विचित्र आभूषण उसमें उठते हुए जलके बुलबुले-जैसे प्रतीत होते थे
tīkṣṇaśastramahāgrāhāṁ kravyādagaṇasevitām | muktāhāroramikalilāṁ citrālaṅkārabudbudām ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Mistula itong mapanganib na lawak ng tubig, na ang matutulis na sandata’y gaya ng malalaking buwaya; at dinadayo ito ng mga pulutong ng mga nilalang na kumakain ng laman. Ang mga kuwintas na perlas ay tila mga alon na gumugulong, at ang sari-saring alahas ay parang mga bulang umaangat sa tubig.” Ipinapakita ng larawang ito ang himig ng panganib at paninila: ang panlabas na karangyaan (perlas at alahas) ay tumatakip sa panloob na katotohanan ng karahasan at kamatayan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches discernment: dazzling external beauty (pearls, ornaments) can coexist with, or even mask, lethal danger (weapons, predators). Ethically, it warns against being captivated by surface splendor when the underlying reality is violent or corrupt.
Vaiśampāyana describes a frightening scene through metaphor: sharp weapons are likened to huge crocodiles, carnivorous beings are said to inhabit the place, and pearls and ornaments are compared to waves and bubbles—creating a vivid picture of a dangerous environment that nonetheless appears glittering.