Shloka 19

Śatarudrīya-prabhāva and Rudra’s Supremacy (शतरुद्रीयप्रभावः)

Devanagari script

व्यालयज्ञोपवीती च लोहिताड्गदभूषण: । हरिश्मश्रुर्जटी भीमो भयकर्ता सुरद्विषाम्‌

Transliteration

vyālayajñopavītī ca lohitāṅgadabhūṣaṇaḥ | hariśmaśrur jaṭī bhīmo bhayakartā suradviṣām ||

Translation

Nārada said: He wore a sacred thread made of serpents, and his ornaments and armlets were red. With tawny beard and matted locks, he appeared terrible—one who inspires fear in the enemies of the gods.

Word by Word

• व्याल-यज्ञोपवीती: having a serpent as the sacred thread
• व्याल-यज्ञोपवीती: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याल + यज्ञोपवीतिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• लोहित-अङ्गद-भूषणः: adorned with red armlets/ornaments
• लोहित-अङ्गद-भूषणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित + अङ्गद + भूषण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हरि-श्मश्रुः: having tawny/yellowish beard
• हरि-श्मश्रुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि + श्मश्रु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जटी: matted-haired
• जटी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीमः: Bhīma / the terrible one
• भीमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भय-कर्ता: maker/causer of fear
• भय-कर्ता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय + कर्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुर-द्विषाम्: of the haters of the gods (asuras/demons)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + द्विष्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• yajñopavīta (sacred thread)
• serpents (vyāla)
• aṅgada (armlet/upper-arm ornament)
• enemies of the gods (suradviṣ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that spiritual or divine authority may appear outwardly fearsome: ascetic marks (jaṭā) and formidable emblems (serpent-thread, red ornaments) signify power used to uphold cosmic order by restraining forces opposed to dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is describing a formidable figure’s appearance—his serpent-made sacred thread, red armlets/ornaments, tawny beard, and matted hair—emphasizing that he is terrifying to the enemies of the gods.