Shloka 18

बकवधोत्तर-प्रशमनम् | Post-slaying Stabilization after Baka’s Death

Devanagari script

अयं श्यामो महाबाहु: सिंहस्कन्धो महाद्युति: । कम्बुग्रीव: पुष्कराक्षो भर्ता युक्तो भवेन्‍न्मम,(उसने मन-ही-मन सोचा--) “इन श्यामसुन्दर तरुण वीरकी भुजाएँ बड़ी-बड़ी हैं, कंधे सिंहके-से हैं, ये महान्‌ तेजस्वी हैं, इनकी ग्रीवा शंखके समान सुन्दर और नेत्र कमलदलके सदृश विशाल हैं। ये मेरे लिये उपयुक्त पति हो सकते हैं

Transliteration

ayaṁ śyāmo mahābāhuḥ siṁhaskandho mahādyutiḥ | kambugrīvaḥ puṣkarākṣo bhartā yukto bhaven mama ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “This dark-hued young hero has mighty arms and lion-like shoulders; he shines with great splendor. His neck is graceful like a conch and his eyes are wide like lotus petals. He would be a fitting husband for me,” she thought inwardly—judging his worth by visible signs of strength, beauty, and noble presence.

Word by Word

• {'ayam': 'this (person here)', 'śyāmaḥ': 'dark-hued

• often connoting youthful beauty', 'mahābāhuḥ': 'mighty-armed

• possessing great strength', 'siṁha-skandhaḥ': 'lion-shouldered

• having powerful shoulders', 'mahā-dyutiḥ': 'of great radiance

• splendid, illustrious', 'kambu-grīvaḥ': 'conch-necked

• having a neck like a conch (smooth, well-formed)', 'puṣkara-akṣaḥ': 'lotus-eyed

• having eyes like lotus petals (large, beautiful)', 'bhartā': 'husband

• protector/supporter', 'yuktaḥ': 'suitable

• appropriate', 'bhavet': 'may be

• would be', 'mama': 'for me

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse reflects a traditional epic ethic where suitability for marriage is assessed through perceived auspicious qualities—strength, radiance, and noble bearing—suggesting an ideal of a spouse as both protector and worthy partner. It also shows how inner deliberation precedes major life choices.

What is happening in the narrative?

A woman (implied by the context) silently observes a young warrior and, impressed by his appearance and heroic traits, thinks to herself that he would be an appropriate husband. Vaiśampāyana narrates her inward thought.