Shloka 36
तस्य रूपं बभौ राजन् भारद्वाजं जिघांसत: । यथा रूपं पुरा विष्णोर्हिरण्यकशिपोर्वधे
tasya rūpaṃ babhau rājan bhāradvājaṃ jighāṃsataḥ | yathā rūpaṃ purā viṣṇor hiraṇyakaśipor vadhe ||
Sañjaya dit : Ô Roi, tandis qu’il cherchait à tuer Bhāradvāja (Droṇa), son apparence s’embrasa—pareille à la forme que Viṣṇu prit jadis lorsqu’Il donna la mort à Hiraṇyakaśipu. La comparaison confère à la résolution du guerrier un éclat presque divin et saisissant, comme si la colère et le dessein au combat pouvaient refléter la terrible majesté de la justice cosmique.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a mythic analogy to show how intense resolve in battle can appear overwhelming and ‘larger than life.’ Ethically, it highlights how narratives of war often interpret human ferocity through the lens of cosmic order—suggesting that power and wrath are judged by the purpose they serve (justice vs. mere vengeance).
Sañjaya describes a warrior (contextually, one intent on killing Droṇa, called Bhāradvāja) whose appearance becomes radiant and terrifying as he advances with lethal intent. He is compared to Viṣṇu’s formidable manifestation at the time of Hiraṇyakaśipu’s death.