Shloka 4
जतुगृहदाहः — The Burning of the Lac House and the Pāṇḍavas’ Concealed Escape
सिंहर्षभगजेन्द्राणां बलवीर्यपराक्रम: । दीप्तिकान्तिद्युतिगुणै: सूर्येन्दुज्वलनोपम:,उसमें सिंहके समान बल, साँड़के समान वीर्य तथा गजराजके समान पराक्रम था, वह दीप्तिसे सूर्य, कान्तिसे चन्द्रमा तथा तेजरूपी गुणसे अग्निके समान जान पड़ता था
siṁharṣabhagajendrāṇāṁ balavīryaparākramaḥ | dīptikāntidyutiguṇaiḥ sūryendujvalanopamaḥ ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Poseía fuerza como un león, brío como un toro y arrojo heroico como el señor de los elefantes. Por su resplandor parecía el sol; por su hermosura, la luna; y por su energía ardiente, el fuego.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents the epic ideal of a leader: strength, vigor, and courageous initiative, complemented by a visible radiance and dignity. In Mahābhārata’s ethical imagination, such splendor is not mere ornament but a sign of capacity to protect and uphold order.
Vaiśampāyana is describing a person (contextually, a heroic figure) through a chain of similes—lion, bull, elephant, sun, moon, and fire—using conventional epic imagery to convey extraordinary power, attractiveness, and commanding presence.