Shloka 15
शरभङ्गाश्रमगमनम् तथा इन्द्रदर्शनम्
Approach to Sarabhanga’s Hermitage and the Vision of Indra
इमे च पुरुषव्याघ्रा ये तिष्ठ्न्त्यभितो रथम्।शतं शतं कुण्डलिनो युवानः खङ्गपाणयः।।3.5.15।।विस्तीर्णविपुलोरस्काः परिघायतबाहवः।शोणांशुवसनास्सर्वे व्याध्रा इव दुरासदाः।।3.5.16।।उरोदेशेषु सर्वेषां हारा ज्वलनसन्निभाः।रूपं बिभ्रति सौमित्रे पञ्चविंशतिवार्षिकम्।।3.5.17।।
ime ca puruṣavyāghrā ye tiṣṭhanty abhito ratham |
śataṁ śataṁ kuṇḍalino yuvānaḥ khaṅgapāṇayaḥ || 3.5.15 ||
vistīrṇavipuloraskāḥ parighāyatabāhavaḥ |
śoṇāṁśuvasanāḥ sarve vyāghrā iva durāsadāḥ || 3.5.16 ||
urodeśeṣu sarveṣāṁ hārā jvalanasannibhāḥ |
rūpaṁ bibhrati saumitre pañcaviṁśativārṣikam || 3.5.17 ||
And, O Saumitrī (Lakṣmaṇa), around the chariot stand hundreds upon hundreds of tiger-like men—young, wearing earrings, swords in hand. Broad-chested, with arms like iron beams, all clad in red, they are hard to approach like tigers. On their chests hang necklaces blazing like fire; they bear the appearance of men about twenty-five years of age.
The horses of Indra, who is often invoked (during sacrificial rituals) and about whom we have heard earlier, are now stationed in the sky.
FAQs
Dharma includes honoring rightful power used in service of cosmic order; the disciplined, radiant retinue symbolizes strength governed by order, not chaos.
Rāma describes to Lakṣmaṇa the formidable celestial guards stationed around Indra’s chariot.
Observant clarity and instructive composure—Rāma carefully details what he sees, guiding Lakṣmaṇa without agitation.