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 ||
اے راجن! وہ سونے کا عصا اور کمندلو لیے ہوئے تھے؛ اور خوشگوار آواز والی ‘کچّھپی’ نام کی دلکش وینا بھی اُن کے ہاتھ میں تھی۔ وہی مہاتپسوی نارَد جٹاؤں کے منڈل سے آراستہ اور سنہرا لباس پہنے ہوئے تھے۔
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.