Shloka 171
The Tārakāmaya War: Divine Mustering, Māyā Countermeasures, Aurva Fire, and Viṣṇu’s Slaying of Kālanemi
धूम्रकेशो हरिश्मश्रुर्दंतुरो विकटाननः । त्रैलोक्यांतरविस्तारं धारयन्विपुलं वपुः
dhūmrakeśo hariśmaśrurdaṃturo vikaṭānanaḥ | trailokyāṃtaravistāraṃ dhārayanvipulaṃ vapuḥ
Mit rauchgrauem Haar und fahlgelbem Bart, mit hervorstehenden Zähnen und schrecklichem Antlitz trug er einen gewaltigen Leib, der den inneren Raum der drei Welten zu umspannen schien.
Unspecified narrator (context-dependent within Adhyaya 41)
Concept: Even the mightiest, most terrifying forms remain within the cosmic order overseen by the Supreme; fearsome appearances signal the gravity of adharma and the necessity of divine protection.
Application: When confronted by intimidating forces (outer or inner), remember scale is not sovereignty; cultivate steadiness and seek refuge in the sustaining principle (dharma/bhakti) rather than panic.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A colossal, smoke-grey–haired being with tawny beard and protruding teeth looms across the inner expanse of the three worlds, his fearsome face half-lit by a stormy, ash-colored glow. The horizon bends under his vastness, with faint silhouettes of celestial cities and earthly mountains dwarfed beneath him, suggesting a universe held in suspense.","primary_figures":["Colossal fearsome being (asura/daitya-like)","Distant devas (tiny, alarmed silhouettes)"],"setting":"Cosmic vista spanning heaven, mid-space, and earth; layered clouds, faint celestial palaces, and miniature continents below.","lighting_mood":"storm-lit, apocalyptic twilight with intermittent divine radiance at the edges","color_palette":["ash grey","burnt umber","blood red","indigo black","pale lightning white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a towering fearsome cosmic figure with smoke-grey hair and tawny beard, protruding teeth and wide terrifying face, spanning the three worlds; miniature devas at the margins; heavy gold leaf halos around celestial strata, rich crimson and emerald accents on ornaments, gem-studded details, stylized South Indian iconographic clouds and layered cosmic bands.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical yet ominous cosmic landscape with delicate brushwork; the giant figure rendered with refined facial features but terrifying expression, sidelong red eyes hinted; cool indigo sky, misty layers of heaven and earth, tiny devas in pale garments; Himalayan-like atmospheric depth and soft gradients.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and monumental frontality; the fearsome being with exaggerated eyes and teeth, smoke-grey hair, tawny beard; flat yet powerful cosmic bands for the three worlds; natural pigment palette with strong reds, yellows, greens; temple-wall aesthetic intensity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: cosmic backdrop with ornate floral borders and lotus motifs turned ominous; deep blue field with gold highlights; the colossal figure dominating center while tiny celestial attendants scatter; intricate patterning on ornaments, stylized clouds, and symbolic three-world bands."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["low temple drum","distant thunder","conch shell (faint)","wind rush","tense silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हरिश्मश्रुर्दंतुरो = हरिश्मश्रुः + दन्तुरः; त्रैलोक्यांतरविस्तारं = त्रैलोक्य-अन्तर-विस्तारम्; धारयन्विपुलं = धारयन् + विपुलम्.
FAQs
It depicts a formidable figure—grey-haired, tawny-bearded, protruding-toothed—whose immense body appears to fill or span the intervening expanse of the three worlds (trailokya).
Not directly; it is primarily descriptive, using vivid physical imagery to convey cosmic scale and awe, which can support a devotional or mythic atmosphere depending on the surrounding narrative.
Such imagery magnifies the sense of power and otherworldliness, helping the listener visualize beings or forces operating on a cosmic stage—common in Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa-style creation and cosmological narration.