Shloka 80
मार्जारशशवत्त्राश्न दीर्घवक्त्राक्ष भारत,भारत! बहुतोंके मुख बिल्ली और खरगोशके समान थे। किन्हींके मुख बहुत बड़े थे और किन्हींके नेवले, उल्लू, कौए, चूहे, बश्वु तथा मयूरके मुखोंके समान थे
mārjāra-śaśavat trāsān dīrgha-vaktrākṣa bhārata | bahūnāṃ mukhāni biḍāla-śaśa-sadṛśāni āsan | kecin mahā-mukhāḥ, kecin nakula-ulūka-kāka-mūṣaka-vṛṣabha-mayūra-sadṛśa-mukhāḥ ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Bhārata, banyak di antara mereka berwajah kucing dan kelinci; sebagian bermulut amat besar dan panjang; sementara yang lain berwajah luwak, burung hantu, gagak, tikus, banteng, dan merak.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how adharma and the violence of war manifest as inner and outer distortion—fear, confusion, and ominous perceptions—suggesting that moral collapse is accompanied by psychological and symbolic disorder.
During the grim events of Śalya Parva, the narrator describes a terrifying sight: many warriors (or people present) appear with animal-like faces of various kinds, functioning as a portent and emphasizing the dread and chaos surrounding the battle.