Shloka 5.56.15
षट्पञ्चाशः सर्गः — वैदेही-आश्वासनम् तथा अरिष्टारोहणम् (Consoling Sita and Ascending Mount Arishta)
निश्श्वसन्तमिवामर्षाद्घोरैराशीविषोत्तमैः।नीहारकृतगम्भीरैर्ध्यायन्तमिव गह्वरैः।।।।
niśśvasantam ivāmarṣād ghorair āśīviṣottamaiḥ |
nīhāra-kṛta-gambhīrair dhyāyantam iva gahvaraiḥ ||
With dreadful, eminent venomous serpents, it seemed to hiss in anger; and with deep caves made solemn by mist, it seemed to meditate in inward stillness.
The mountain was as though hissing like a dreadful, poisonous snake. With the caves standing majestically covered with mist, the mountain appeared as if it was meditating.
It juxtaposes anger (amarṣa) with meditation (dhyāna), implying the Dharmic ideal of mastering inner impulses and turning toward contemplative restraint rather than harm.
The narration continues a vivid portrayal of the mountain, blending danger (serpents) and sanctity (meditative caves).
Self-control (dama): the verse’s tension between ‘hissing’ and ‘meditating’ highlights the moral importance of containing destructive emotion.