Shloka 4

Devanagari script

अथ दानवसडूघास्ते विकृताननमूर्धजा: । उदक्रोशन्‌ महाराज विछिते मयि भारत,भरतवंशी महराज! तदनन्तर जब मैं निर्भय और अचलभावसे स्थित हुआ तथा उनपर शस्त्रप्रहार करने लगा, तब विकृत मुख और केशवाले सौभनिवासी दानवगण जोर-जोरसे चिल्लाने लगे

Transliteration

atha dānavasaṃghās te vikṛtānanamūrdhajāḥ | udakrośan mahārāja vicchite mayi bhārata ||

Translation

Then those bands of Dānavas, with grotesque faces and dishevelled hair, began to cry out loudly, O great king, O scion of Bharata, when I stood firm and unshaken and struck at them with weapons.

Word by Word

अथthen

दानव-संघाःgroups of demons

तेthey

विकृत-आनन-मूर्धजाःhaving distorted faces and hair

उदक्रोशन्cried out, shouted

महा-राजO great king

विच्छितेwhen (I was) cut down/struck down

मयिin me / with respect to me

भारतO Bharata

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyudeva (speaker)

Dānavas

Bhārata (addressee/lineage reference)

Mahārāja (king addressed)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical power of fearlessness and steadiness: when one stands firm and acts decisively against wrongdoing, the aggressor’s bravado collapses into panic. Inner composure (acalatā) supports righteous action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva describes a moment of combat: as he remains undisturbed and strikes the Dānavas, they begin shouting loudly—an audible sign that his firm resistance is overwhelming them.