Shloka 11
सूर्य–कर्णोपदेशः
Sūrya’s Counsel to Karṇa on Kīrti and the Kuṇḍala
गिरिकूटनिभा: केचित् केचिन्महिषसंनिभा: । शरदशभ्रप्रतीकाशा: केचिद्धिड्डुलकानना:,कोई पर्वत-शिखरके समान ऊँचे थे तो कोई भैंसोंके सदूश मोटे और काले। कितने ही वानर शरद-ऋतुके बादलोंकी तरह सफेद दिखायी देते थे, कितनोंके ही मुख सिन्दूरके समान लाल रंगके थे
girikūṭanibhāḥ kecit kecin mahiṣasaṃnibhāḥ | śaradaśabhrapratīkāśāḥ kecid dhiḍḍulakānanāḥ ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “Some of them were lofty like mountain-peaks; some were thickset and dark like buffaloes. Some monkeys appeared white like the autumn clouds, while others had faces red as vermilion.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily uses vivid similes to portray diversity in form and appearance, highlighting how epic narration employs nature-based imagery to make a scene morally and emotionally intelligible—strength, variety, and readiness are conveyed through comparisons to mountains, buffaloes, clouds, and vermilion.
Mārkaṇḍeya is describing a group of monkeys (vānaras), emphasizing their varied physiques and colors—some towering, some massive and dark, some white like autumn clouds, and some with vermilion-red faces.