Mahabharata 7.177.7 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 177, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

महाकायो महाबाहुर्महाशीर्षो महाबल: । विकृत: परुषस्पर्शो विकटोद्वृद्धपिण्डक:

Transliteration

mahākāyo mahābāhur mahāśīrṣo mahābalaḥ | vikṛtaḥ paruṣasparśo vikaṭoddhṛddhapiṇḍakaḥ ||

Translation

സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അവൻ മഹാകായൻ, മഹാബാഹു, മഹാശിരസ്സുള്ളവൻ, മഹാബലവാൻ. അവന്റെ രൂപം വികൃതം; സ്പർശം കഠിനം; കാല്പിണ്ഡങ്ങൾ വികടവും അത്യന്തം ദൃഢവുമായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• महाकायः: having a huge body
• महाकायः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाकाय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाबाहुः: having mighty arms
• महाबाहुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाशीर्षः: having a huge head
• महाशीर्षः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाशीर्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाबलः: of great strength
• महाबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विकृतः: misshapen, deformed
• विकृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परुषस्पर्शः: having a harsh/hard touch
• परुषस्पर्शः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुषस्पर्श
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विकटः: hideous, formidable
• विकटः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उद्वृद्धपिण्डकः: having enlarged calves/legs (bulky shanks)
• उद्वृद्धपिण्डकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्वृद्धपिण्डक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how war magnifies outward power and terror; ethically, it cautions that judging solely by physical might or fearsome appearance can obscure dharmic discernment, and that violence can make human beings appear monstrous.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing a formidable figure on the battlefield—emphasizing immense size, strength, and a harsh, misshapen appearance—to convey the dread and intensity of the combat situation.