Shloka 28

Jarāsandha–Bhīma Niyuddha-prastāvaḥ

Commencement of the Regulated Duel

Devanagari script

गोवासमिव वीक्षन्त: सिंहा हैमवता यथा । शालस्तम्भनिभास्तेषां चन्दनागुरुरूषिता:

Transliteration

govāsam iva vīkṣantaḥ siṃhā haimavatā yathā | śālastambhanibhās teṣāṃ candanāgururūṣitāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: They looked on as Himalayan lions might gaze upon a cattle-pen—unyielding and predatory in their intent. Their bodies, tall and firm like śāla-wood pillars, were anointed and fragrant with sandal and aloe, projecting both royal refinement and formidable power in the charged atmosphere of the assembly.

Word by Word

• गोवासम्: a cattle-dwelling/settlement (cow-pen, cowherd-hamlet)
• गोवासम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• वीक्षन्तः: seeing, looking at
• वीक्षन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, शतृ (present active participle)

• सिंहाः: lions
• सिंहाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• हैमवताः: Himalayan (of the Himavat)
• हैमवताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैमवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• शालस्तम्भनिभाः: having the likeness of śāla-pillars (pillar-like)
• शालस्तम्भनिभाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• चन्दनागुरुरूषिताः: smeared with sandal and agaru (aloeswood)
• चन्दनागुरुरूषिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूषित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from √रूष्/√रुष् 'to smear/anoint')
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle used adjectivally)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Himālaya (Haimavata)
• lions (siṃha)
• cattle-pen (govāsa)
• śāla pillars (śālastambha)
• sandalwood (candana)
• aloeswood/agarwood (aguru)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how outward refinement (perfumes, regal bearing) can coexist with inner aggression; ethical discernment requires seeing beyond appearances, especially in political assemblies where power often masks predatory intent.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the assembly setting, a group is described as watching others with the threatening focus of Himalayan lions eyeing a cattle enclosure, while their imposing, pillar-like physiques and fragrant anointments underscore both their status and their readiness to dominate.