Shloka 18

सूर्य–कर्णोपदेशः

Sūrya’s Counsel to Karṇa on Kīrti and the Kuṇḍala

Devanagari script

प्रबभौ हरिसैन्यं तत्‌ सालतालशिलायुधम्‌ | सुमहच्छालिभवनं यथा सूर्योदयं प्रति

Transliteration

prababhau harisainyaṃ tat sālatālaśilāyudham | sumahacchālibhavanaṃ yathā sūryodayaṃ prati

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya nói: “Đạo quân Hari ấy rực sáng—lấy cây sāla, cây tāla và những tảng đá làm vũ khí—tựa một thành cung điện rộng lớn, huy hoàng, lấp lánh khi hướng về bình minh.”

Word by Word

• प्रबभौ: shone forth, blazed
• प्रबभौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√भा (भा)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada

• हरि-सैन्यम्: the army of Hari (Vishnu/Krishna)
• हरि-सैन्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिसैन्य
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• साल-ताल-शिला-आयुधम्: having weapons of sāla and tāla trees and rocks
• साल-ताल-शिला-आयुधम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सालतालशिलायुध
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• सुमहत्-शालि-भवनम्: a very great, splendid mansion/palace
• सुमहत्-शालि-भवनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमहच्छालिभवन
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• यथा: as, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• सूर्य-उदयम्: sunrise
• सूर्य-उदयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्योदय
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• प्रति: towards, in the direction of
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Hari
• Hari’s army (harisainyam)
• sāla trees
• tāla trees
• rocks/stones (śilā)
• sunrise (sūryodaya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how divine-aligned power can appear awe-inspiring and orderly even in martial contexts: the host of Hari is portrayed not as chaotic violence but as radiant, purposeful force—suggesting that strength, when aligned with dharma, carries a luminous, elevating quality.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes the emergence or visibility of Hari’s army, emphasizing its brilliance and formidable armament (trees and stones as weapons). The simile compares this sight to a magnificent palace-city shining as it faces the sunrise, underscoring both beauty and overwhelming presence.