Shloka 86

Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

सर्वे नानुगतं चैनं दारुणा: पिशिताशना: । घोररूपा महाकाया धर्षयन्ति द्विजोत्तमम्‌,भयंकर रूप और विशाल शरीरवाले, समस्त क्रूरकर्मा, मांसभक्षी राक्षस भी गायत्रीजपपरायण उस श्रेष्ठ द्विजपर आक्रमण नहीं कर सकते

Transliteration

sarve nānugataṃ cainaṃ dāruṇāḥ piśitāśanāḥ | ghorarūpā mahākāyā dharṣayanti dvijottamam ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “All those savage, flesh-eating rākṣasas—terrifying in form and huge in body—are unable to assail this best of twice-born men. His steadfastness in sacred recitation (japa) makes him unassailable, showing how spiritual discipline and dharma can restrain even violent forces.”

Word by Word

सर्वेall

नnot

अनुगतम्approached / followed (gone after)

चand

एनम्him

दारुणाःcruel / dreadful

पिशिताशनाःflesh-eaters

घोररूपाःof terrible form

महाकायाःhuge-bodied

धर्षयन्तिassault / violate / attack

द्विजोत्तमम्the best of the twice-born (brahmin)

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

rākṣasas

dvijottama (an eminent brāhmaṇa)

Character 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

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the protective power of dharmic discipline—especially mantra-japa and brahminical restraint—suggesting that inner spiritual force can neutralize external violence and keep even cruel beings from transgressing.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira describes a situation where terrifying, flesh-eating rākṣasas are present, yet they cannot successfully assail an eminent brāhmaṇa (described in the Gītā Press context as devoted to Gāyatrī-japa), indicating the brāhmaṇa’s spiritual inviolability.