Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 93
Kārttikeya-Abhiṣecana: Mātṛgaṇa-Nāma Saṃkīrtana and Skanda’s Commission
नानावेषधराश्चवैव नानामाल्यानुलेपना: । नानावस्त्रधराश्चैव चर्मवासस एव च,वे नाना प्रकारके वेश, भाँति-भाँतिकी माला और चन्दन तथा अनेक प्रकारके वस्त्र धारण करते थे। कोई-कोई चमड़ेका ही वस्त्र पहनते थे
nānāveṣadharāś caiva nānāmālyānulepanāḥ | nānāvāstradharāś caiva carmavāsasa eva ca ||
وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا— وہ طرح طرح کے بھیس بنائے ہوئے تھے؛ گوناگوں ہاروں اور خوشبودار لیپوں سے آراستہ تھے۔ وہ مختلف قسم کے لباس پہنے ہوئے تھے؛ اور بعض تو صرف چمڑے کے کپڑے ہی اوڑھے ہوئے تھے۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how outward appearance—dress, adornment, and even ascetic hide-clothing—can differ greatly within a single assembly. It implicitly cautions that ethical worth and intent are not reliably judged by external markers, a relevant tension in the war narrative where inner resolve and dharma are tested.
The narrator describes a crowd or gathering characterized by diverse costumes and adornments: some wear garlands and perfumes, others different garments, and some are clad in hides. It functions as a vivid scene-setting detail within the Shalya Parva’s unfolding events.