Shloka 25
प्रावृट्-शरत्-वर्णनम् — Description of the Monsoon and Autumn; Sarasvatī in the Pāṇḍavas’ Exile
पर्वताभोगवर्ष्माणमतिकायं महाबलम् चित्राड़मड़जैश्षित्रैर्हरिद्रासद्शच्छविम्
parvatābhogavarṣmāṇam atikāyaṁ mahābalam | citrāṅgam aṅgajaiś citrair haridrāsadṛśacchavim ||
ヴァイシャṃパーヤナは語った。「その胴は山脈のごとく広大で、巨躯にして力は凄まじかった。四肢は異様で、全身に尋常ならぬ徴が刻まれ、肌は鬱金のように黄いろい。四本の光る牙を備えた口は洞窟のようで、眼は烈しく赤く、まるで火を吐くかに見えた。彼は幾度も顎の両側を舐めた。あの恐るべき蛇は、末劫をもたらすカラान्तカや閻魔のごとく万有を震え上がらせ、嘶く息と獅子の咆哮にも似た声で、他を叱責しているかのようであった。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily builds a moral atmosphere rather than stating a doctrine: it evokes how overwhelming, death-like forces (likened to Kālāntaka and Yama) can confront beings in the wilderness of life, reminding the listener of mortality and the need for steadiness and discernment when fearsome appearances arise.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes a terrifying, gigantic serpent in vivid physical detail—mountain-like body, turmeric-yellow hue, strange markings, four gleaming fangs, fiery red eyes, and threatening hisses/roars—establishing the creature as a fearsome presence that intimidates all beings.