Shloka 28

Jarāsandha–Bhīma Niyuddha-prastāvaḥ

Commencement of the Regulated Duel

Devanagari script

गोवासमिव वीक्षन्त: सिंहा हैमवता यथा । शालस्तम्भनिभास्तेषां चन्दनागुरुरूषिता:

Transliteration

govāsam iva vīkṣantaḥ siṃhā haimavatā yathā | śālastambhanibhās teṣāṃ candanāgururūṣitāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: Pandangan mereka bagaikan singa Himalaya memerhati kandang lembu—tegar, tidak berganjak, dengan niat pemangsa. Tubuh mereka tinggi dan kukuh seperti tiang kayu śāla, disapukan cendana dan gaharu (aloe) hingga harum semerbak—memancarkan kehalusan diraja dan kekuatan yang menggentarkan dalam suasana dewan yang tegang.

Word by Word

गोवासम्a cattle-dwelling/settlement (cow-pen, cowherd-hamlet)

इवlike, as

वीक्षन्तःseeing, looking at

सिंहाःlions

हैमवताःHimalayan (of the Himavat)

यथाas, just as

शालस्तम्भनिभाःhaving the likeness of śāla-pillars (pillar-like)

तेषाम्of them

चन्दनागुरुरूषिताःsmeared with sandal and agaru (aloeswood)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Himālaya (Haimavata)

lions (siṃha)

cattle-pen (govāsa)

śāla pillars (śālastambha)

sandalwood (candana)

aloeswood/agarwood (aguru)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how outward refinement (perfumes, regal bearing) can coexist with inner aggression; ethical discernment requires seeing beyond appearances, especially in political assemblies where power often masks predatory intent.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the assembly setting, a group is described as watching others with the threatening focus of Himalayan lions eyeing a cattle enclosure, while their imposing, pillar-like physiques and fragrant anointments underscore both their status and their readiness to dominate.