Shloka 8
Saṃvaraṇa–Tapatī Vivāhaḥ (The Marriage of Saṃvaraṇa and Tapatī) — Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva 163
आकर्णाद् भिन्नवक्त्रश्न शड्कुर्णो बिभीषण: । त्रिशिखां भ्रुकुटिं कृत्वा संदश्य दशनच्छदम्,मुँहका फैलाव कानोंके समीपतक था, कान भी शंकुके समान लंबे और नुकीले थे। बड़ा भयानक था वह राक्षस। उसने भौंहें ऐसी टेढ़ी कर रखी थीं कि वहाँ तीन रेखाएँ उभड़ आयी थीं और वह दाँतोंसे ओठ चबा रहा था
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: ākarṇād bhinnavaktraś ca śaṅkukarṇo bibhīṣaṇaḥ | triśikhāṁ bhru-kuṭiṁ kṛtvā saṁdaśya daśanacchadam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: His mouth seemed split wide up to the ears; his ears were long, pointed, and cone-like. Terrifying in appearance, the rākṣasa drew his brows into a fierce frown so that three ridges stood out, and he gnawed his own lips with his teeth—an outward sign of violent intent and inner agitation.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses physical imagery to signal moral and psychological states: uncontrolled anger and harmful intent manifest outwardly. In epic ethics, such signs warn the listener to recognize adharma-driven impulses and their consequences.
The narrator describes a terrifying rākṣasa’s appearance—gaping mouth, pointed ears, a triple-lined frown, and lip-biting—building tension and indicating imminent aggression.