Shloka 13
Śānti-parva Adhyāya 3: Karṇa’s training under Rāma Jāmadagnya and the Bhārgava restriction on the Brahmāstra
अष्टपाद॑ं तीक्ष्णदंष्टं सूचीभिरिव संवृतम् । रोमभि: संनिरुद्धाड्रमलर्क नाम नामतः
aṣṭapādaṁ tīkṣṇadaṁṣṭraṁ sūcībhir iva saṁvṛtam | romabhiḥ saṁniruddhāḍhyaṁ malarka nāma nāmataḥ ||
નારદ બોલ્યા—“મલર્ક નામનો એક કીડો હતો—આઠ પગવાળો, તીક્ષ્ણ દાંતવાળો, જાણે સોયોથી ઢંકાયેલો; અને કઠોર રોમોથી તેનું શરીર સર્વત્ર ઘેરાયેલું હતું.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up a vivid, cautionary portrait of a formidable being (Malarka). In Śānti Parva’s ethical discourse, such descriptions typically function as moral framing—introducing an example whose nature and conduct will illustrate consequences of certain dispositions (e.g., cruelty, fearfulness, or the need for restraint and discernment).
Nārada begins describing a figure named Malarka, emphasizing terrifying physical traits—eight legs, sharp fangs, needle-like covering, and dense bristles—preparing the listener for a didactic episode in which this character’s story or behavior will be used for instruction.