Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 48

Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration

Anuśāsana-parva 17

Devanagari script

गजहा दैत्यहा कालो लोकधाता गुणाकर: । सिंहशार्दूलरूपश्न आर्द्रचर्माम्बरावृत:

Transliteration

gajahā daityahā kālo lokadhātā guṇākaraḥ | siṁhaśārdūlarūpaś ca ārdracarmāmbarāvṛtaḥ ||

Translation

ವಾಯುದೇವನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಅವನು ಗಜರೂಪ ಶತ್ರುವನ್ನು ಸಂಹರಿಸುವವನು, ದೈತ್ಯಹಂತಕ; ಅವನೇ ಕಾಲಸ್ವರೂಪ. ಲೋಕಗಳನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿ ಪೋಷಿಸುವವನು, ಸದ್ಗುಣಗಳ ನಿಧಿ. ಸಿಂಹ-ವ್ಯಾಘ್ರ ರೂಪಗಳನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿ, ಗಜಾಸುರನ ಇನ್ನೂ ತೇವವಾದ ಚರ್ಮವನ್ನೇ ವಸ್ತ್ರವಾಗಿ ಹೊದೆಯುತ್ತಾನೆ.

Word by Word

• गजहा: slayer of the elephant (elephant-demon)
• गजहा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज-हन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दैत्यहा: slayer of the daityas
• दैत्यहा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य-हन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कालः: Time; Death
• कालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• लोकधाता: supporter/sustainer of the worlds
• लोकधाता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक-धातृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गुणाकरः: mine/abode of virtues
• गुणाकरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण-आकर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सिंहशार्दूलरूपः: one whose form is (that of) lion and tiger
• सिंहशार्दूलरूपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह-शार्दूल-रूप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आर्द्रचर्माम्बरावृतः: covered with a garment of wet hide
• आर्द्रचर्माम्बरावृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्द्र-चर्म-अम्बर-आवृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• Daityas
• Kāla (Time/Death)
• loka (the worlds)
• lion (siṁha)
• tiger/leopard (śārdūla)
• elephant (gaja)
• hide/skin garment (carmāmbara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises a divine figure as both protector and destroyer: he sustains the worlds (lokadhātā) yet is also Kāla (Time/Death). Ethically, it frames righteous power as multi-dimensional—fierce against adharma (daityahā) while fundamentally grounded in virtue (guṇākaraḥ) and cosmic maintenance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu is describing and glorifying a formidable deity/hero through epithets: slayer of demon foes (including one associated with an elephant form), embodiment of Time, supporter of the worlds, and one who assumes lion/tiger forms. The striking image of being clothed in a fresh hide underscores the aftermath of a demon-slaying feat and the deity’s terrifying, protective aspect.