Shloka 19
Aśvatthāmā’s Stuti of Rudra and Śiva’s Empowerment (सौप्तिकपर्व, अध्याय ७)
कूर्मनक्रमुखा श्वैव शिशुमारमुखास्तथा । महामकरवक्त्राश्ष॒ तिमिवक्त्रास्तथैव च
kūrma-nakra-mukhāś caiva śiśumāra-mukhās tathā | mahā-makara-vaktrāś ca timi-vaktrās tathaiva ca ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Ada pula banyak kelompok yang wajahnya menyerupai kura-kura dan buaya; demikian juga yang berwajah seperti śiśumāra (lumba-lumba sungai). Sebagian bermulut menganga seperti makara raksasa, dan sebagian lagi seperti ikan timi.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contributes an ethical warning through imagery: when violence and vengeance dominate, the world is perceived as monstrous and terrifying. The narrative atmosphere underscores how adharma distorts perception and leads to भय (fear) and moral darkness.
Sañjaya is describing frightening, animal-faced groups—turtle-, crocodile-, dolphin-, makara-, and timi-mouthed forms—used to intensify the dread and ominous tone surrounding the night events of the Sauptika Parva.