Shloka 11

Devanagari script

दृष्टीविषै: सप्तशीर्षैगुप्तं भोगिभिरद्धुतै: । रक्षोभिश्व पिशाचैश्व रौद्रैर्भूतगणैस्तथा

Transliteration

dṛṣṭiviṣaiḥ saptaśīrṣair guptaṃ bhogibhir adbhutaiḥ | rakṣobhiś ca piśācaiś ca raudrair bhūtaganais tathā ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: “It was guarded by wondrous serpents with seven hoods whose very gaze was venomous; and it was also protected by fierce rākṣasas and piśācas, as well as by dreadful hosts of spirits.”

Word by Word

दृष्टिविषैःby (those) whose poison is in the glance

सप्तशीर्षैःby seven-headed (ones)

गुप्तम्guarded/protected

भोगिभिःby serpents

अद्भुतैःby wondrous/terrible (ones)

रक्षोभिःby rakshasas/demons

चand

पिशाचैःby pisachas/ghouls

चand

रौद्रैःby fierce/terrible (ones)

भूतगणैःby hosts of spirits

तथाlikewise/also

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

seven-hooded serpents (saptaśīrṣa bhogis)

rākṣasas

piśācas

bhūta-gaṇas (hosts of spirits)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

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 how formidable obstacles—fearsome guardians and terrifying forces—can surround a goal or sacred place, implying that true resolve and righteous purpose (dharma) must be steady even when confronted by dread and danger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes a location or object as heavily guarded: seven-hooded, venom-gazed serpents stand watch, along with rākṣasas, piśācas, and fierce hosts of spirits, emphasizing the peril of approaching it.