Shloka 19

Śatarudrīya-prabhāva and Rudra’s Supremacy (शतरुद्रीयप्रभावः)

Devanagari script

व्यालयज्ञोपवीती च लोहिताड्गदभूषण: । हरिश्मश्रुर्जटी भीमो भयकर्ता सुरद्विषाम्‌

Transliteration

vyālayajñopavītī ca lohitāṅgadabhūṣaṇaḥ | hariśmaśrur jaṭī bhīmo bhayakartā suradviṣām ||

Translation

Nārada berkata: Baginda mengenakan yajñopavīta (tali suci) yang diperbuat daripada ular, dan perhiasan serta gelang lengannya berwarna merah. Dengan janggut keemasan dan rambut jata yang terurai kusut, Baginda tampak menggerunkan—yang menimbulkan gentar pada musuh para dewa.

Word by Word

व्याल-यज्ञोपवीतीhaving a serpent as the sacred thread

चand

लोहित-अङ्गद-भूषणःadorned with red armlets/ornaments

हरि-श्मश्रुःhaving tawny/yellowish beard

जटीmatted-haired

भीमःBhīma / the terrible one

भय-कर्ताmaker/causer of fear

सुर-द्विषाम्of the haters of the gods (asuras/demons)

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

yajñopavīta (sacred thread)

serpents (vyāla)

aṅgada (armlet/upper-arm ornament)

enemies of the gods (suradviṣ)

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 highlights that spiritual or divine authority may appear outwardly fearsome: ascetic marks (jaṭā) and formidable emblems (serpent-thread, red ornaments) signify power used to uphold cosmic order by restraining forces opposed to dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is describing a formidable figure’s appearance—his serpent-made sacred thread, red armlets/ornaments, tawny beard, and matted hair—emphasizing that he is terrifying to the enemies of the gods.