Shloka 19

Śatarudrīya-prabhāva and Rudra’s Supremacy (शतरुद्रीयप्रभावः)

Devanagari script

व्यालयज्ञोपवीती च लोहिताड्गदभूषण: । हरिश्मश्रुर्जटी भीमो भयकर्ता सुरद्विषाम्‌

Transliteration

vyālayajñopavītī ca lohitāṅgadabhūṣaṇaḥ | hariśmaśrur jaṭī bhīmo bhayakartā suradviṣām ||

Translation

Nārada berkata: Ia mengenakan upavīta suci dari ular-ular, dan berhias gelang lengan merah. Dengan janggut keemasan-tembaga dan rambut gimbal, ia tampak dahsyat—penebar gentar bagi para musuh para dewa.

Word by Word

• व्याल-यज्ञोपवीती: having a serpent as the sacred thread
• व्याल-यज्ञोपवीती: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याल + यज्ञोपवीतिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• लोहित-अङ्गद-भूषणः: adorned with red armlets/ornaments
• लोहित-अङ्गद-भूषणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित + अङ्गद + भूषण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हरि-श्मश्रुः: having tawny/yellowish beard
• हरि-श्मश्रुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि + श्मश्रु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जटी: matted-haired
• जटी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीमः: Bhīma / the terrible one
• भीमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भय-कर्ता: maker/causer of fear
• भय-कर्ता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय + कर्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुर-द्विषाम्: of the haters of the gods (asuras/demons)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + द्विष्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• yajñopavīta (sacred thread)
• serpents (vyāla)
• aṅgada (armlet/upper-arm ornament)
• enemies of the gods (suradviṣ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that spiritual or divine authority may appear outwardly fearsome: ascetic marks (jaṭā) and formidable emblems (serpent-thread, red ornaments) signify power used to uphold cosmic order by restraining forces opposed to dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is describing a formidable figure’s appearance—his serpent-made sacred thread, red armlets/ornaments, tawny beard, and matted hair—emphasizing that he is terrifying to the enemies of the gods.