Shloka 29

Sāvitrī’s Trirātra-Vrata and Departure with Satyavān (सावित्रीव्रतनिश्चयः सहगमनं च)

Devanagari script

मेघपर्वतसंकाशं शालस्कन्धं महाभुजम्‌ । उरोगतविशालाक्षं महोदरमहामुखम्‌,वह मेघके समान काला और पर्वतके समान विशालकाय था। साखूकी शाखाके समान उसके कंधे और बड़ी-बड़ी भुजाएँ थीं। उसकी चौड़ी छातीमें दो बड़ी-बड़ी आँखें चमक रहीं थीं और लंबे-से पेटमें बहुत बड़ा मुख दिखायी दे रहा था

Transliteration

meghaparvatasaṅkāśaṃ śālaskandhaṃ mahābhujam | urogataviśālākṣaṃ mahodaramahāmukham ||

Translation

マールカンデーヤは語った。「それは雲の闇を帯びた山のごとく現れ、肩はシャーラ樹の幹のようで、腕は巨大であった。広い胸には大きな二つの眼が輝き、長い腹には巨大な口が見えていた。」

Word by Word

मेघपर्वतसंकाशम्resembling a cloud and a mountain

शालस्कन्धम्having shoulders like a śāla-tree (trunk/branch)

महाभुजम्large-armed, mighty-armed

उरोगतविशालाक्षम्having large eyes situated on the chest

महोदरमहामुखम्big-bellied and big-mouthed

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse primarily uses vivid, hyperbolic imagery to evoke awe and caution: appearances of overwhelming power can unsettle the mind, so one should respond with steadiness and discernment rather than panic—an implicit ethical cue in epic narration.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya is describing a terrifying, colossal being: cloud-dark and mountain-like, with śāla-tree-like shoulders, huge arms, two large eyes on the chest, and a massive mouth on the belly—setting the scene for an encounter marked by fear and wonder.