Shloka 5

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वरोमा हरिश्मश्रु: शड्कुकर्णो महाहनु: । आकर्णदारितास्यश्व तीक्ष्णदंष्ट: करालवान्‌,संजयने कहा--राजन्‌! घटोत्कचका शरीर बहुत बड़ा था। उसकी आँँखें सुर्ख रंगकी थीं। मुँह ताँबेके रंगका और पेट धँसा हुआ था। उसके रोएँ ऊपरकी ओर उठे हुए थे, दाढ़ी- मूँछ काली थी, ठोड़ी बड़ी दिखायी देती थी। मुँह कानोंतक फटा हुआ था, दाढ़ें तीखी होनेके कारण वह विकराल जान पड़ता था

Transliteration

ūrdhvaromā hariśmaśruḥ śaṅkukarṇo mahāhanuḥ | ākarṇadāritāsyaśvaḥ tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭraḥ karālavān |

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, bulu-bulu tubuhnya berdiri; kumis dan janggutnya berwarna gelap kekuningan; telinganya berbentuk sangkha, dan rahangnya sangat besar. Mulutnya seakan terbelah hingga ke telinga; taringnya tajam; wajahnya sungguh mengerikan.”

Word by Word

ऊर्ध्वरोमाhaving hair standing upward

हरिश्मश्रुःhaving tawny/greenish (dark) beard and moustache

शङ्कुकर्णःhaving spike-like ears

महाहनुःhaving a huge jaw

आकर्णदारितास्यःwhose mouth is torn/split up to the ears

अश्वःhorse

तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रःhaving sharp fangs

करालवान्terrible, frightful

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by 'rājan')

Ghaṭotkaca (described in the surrounding passage/context)

horse (śva)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse primarily serves narrative-ethical purpose rather than direct instruction: it shows how terrifying appearances and supernatural warfare amplify fear on the battlefield, reminding that war is not only physical combat but also a contest of morale and perception—an aspect that complicates dharma in battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra a vivid, frightening description of the warrior’s (contextually Ghaṭotkaca’s) form and mount, emphasizing monstrous features—bristling hair, sharp fangs, and a mouth split to the ears—to convey the panic and awe his presence inspires among the opposing forces.