Shloka 158
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
अतीव हसते रौद्रस्त्रासयन् नयनैर्जनम् । जागर्ति चैव स्वपिति जृम्भते च यथासुखम्
atīva hasate raudras trāsayan nayanair janam | jāgarti caiva svapiti jṛmbhate ca yathāsukham ||
Vāsudeva sprach: „Übermäßig lacht er, in grimmiger Haltung, und schreckt die Menschen mit seinen Augen. Und doch wacht er, schläft er und gähnt er — jedes nach seinem Belieben.“
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights outward behavioral signs of a harsh or intimidating disposition—excessive, fierce laughter and fear-inducing looks—paired with self-indulgent ease. Ethically, it points to how unchecked temperament and intimidation can reveal inner disorder and disregard for others.
Vāsudeva is describing a person’s observable conduct: he laughs in a frightening, fierce manner, alarms people with his gaze, and behaves with casual self-comfort—awake, asleep, or yawning as he pleases—suggesting a character sketch used for moral evaluation.