Shloka 28

Jarāsandha–Bhīma Niyuddha-prastāvaḥ

Commencement of the Regulated Duel

Devanagari script

गोवासमिव वीक्षन्त: सिंहा हैमवता यथा । शालस्तम्भनिभास्तेषां चन्दनागुरुरूषिता:

Transliteration

govāsam iva vīkṣantaḥ siṃhā haimavatā yathā | śālastambhanibhās teṣāṃ candanāgururūṣitāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Ils regardaient comme des lions de l’Himalaya fixant un enclos à bétail—implacables, prédateurs dans leur dessein. Leurs corps, hauts et fermes tels des piliers de bois śāla, étaient oints et parfumés de santal et d’aloès, alliant raffinement royal et puissance redoutable dans l’atmosphère tendue de l’assemblée.

Word by Word

• गोवासम्: a cattle-dwelling/settlement (cow-pen, cowherd-hamlet)
• गोवासम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• वीक्षन्तः: seeing, looking at
• वीक्षन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, शतृ (present active participle)

• सिंहाः: lions
• सिंहाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• हैमवताः: Himalayan (of the Himavat)
• हैमवताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैमवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यथा: as, just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• शालस्तम्भनिभाः: having the likeness of śāla-pillars (pillar-like)
• शालस्तम्भनिभाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• चन्दनागुरुरूषिताः: smeared with sandal and agaru (aloeswood)
• चन्दनागुरुरूषिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूषित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from √रूष्/√रुष् 'to smear/anoint')
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle used adjectivally)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Himālaya (Haimavata)
• lions (siṃha)
• cattle-pen (govāsa)
• śāla pillars (śālastambha)
• sandalwood (candana)
• aloeswood/agarwood (aguru)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how outward refinement (perfumes, regal bearing) can coexist with inner aggression; ethical discernment requires seeing beyond appearances, especially in political assemblies where power often masks predatory intent.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the assembly setting, a group is described as watching others with the threatening focus of Himalayan lions eyeing a cattle enclosure, while their imposing, pillar-like physiques and fragrant anointments underscore both their status and their readiness to dominate.