Shloka 22
Devanagari script
तमापततन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य विरूपाक्षं विभीषणम्
Transliteration
tam āpatatantaṃ samprekṣya virūpākṣaṃ vibhīṣaṇam
Translation
Sañjaya said: Seeing that fearsome, misshapen-eyed warrior rushing in, they beheld him with alarm—an oncoming presence that inspired dread on the battlefield.
Word by Word
तम्him
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
आपततन्तम्falling/charging (towards)
आपततन्तम्:
Karma
TypeVerb-derived Adjective
Rootआपत् (धातु: पत्/आपत्)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)
सम्प्रेक्ष्यhaving looked at/observed
सम्प्रेक्ष्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + प्र + ईक्ष्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite
विरूपाक्षम्Virūpākṣa (the odd-eyed one)
विरूपाक्षम्:
Karma
TypeNoun (Proper name/Epithet)
Rootविरूपाक्ष
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
विभीषणम्Vibhīṣaṇa
विभीषणम्:
Karma
TypeNoun (Proper name)
Rootविभीषण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how perception shapes moral and emotional response in war: the sight of a terrifying onrushing foe triggers fear, testing steadiness and discernment amid violence.
Sañjaya describes a moment on the battlefield where a dreadful-looking warrior charges in; those watching notice his frightening appearance and the imminent threat he represents.