Mahabharata 9.45.88 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 45, Shloka 88
Kārttikeya-Abhiṣecana: Mātṛgaṇa-Nāma Saṃkīrtana and Skanda’s Commission
कुछ विषधर सर्पोंके समान जान पड़ते थे। कोई चीर धारण करते थे और किन्हीं- किन्हींके मुख गायके नथुनोंके समान प्रतीत होते थे। किन्हींके पेट बहुत मोटे थे और किन्हींके अत्यन्त कृश। कोई शरीरसे बहुत दुबले-पतले थे तो कोई महास्थूलकाय दिखायी देते थे ।।
hṛasvagrīvā mahākarṇā nānāvyālavibhūṣaṇāḥ | gajendracarmavasanās tathā kṛṣṇājināmbarāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Mereka muncul dalam pelbagai rupa yang ganjil—ada yang seperti ular berbisa, ada yang berselimut kain compang-camping, dan ada yang berwajah seakan lubang hidung lembu. Ada yang berperut sangat besar, ada yang terlalu kurus; ada yang tubuhnya melidi, ada pula yang tampak amat gempal. Berleher pendek dan bertelinga besar, mereka memakai pelbagai jenis ular sebagai perhiasan. Ada yang membalut diri dengan kulit gajah, dan ada yang mengenakan kulit kijang hitam.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how striking external marks—garments, ornaments, bodily features—can indicate severe austerity, wildness, or abnormality, but it implicitly cautions that true dharma is not guaranteed by appearance alone; inner conduct and intent remain decisive.
Vaiśampāyana describes a group of frightening, oddly formed beings/ascetic-like figures, detailing their bodies and attire—snakes as ornaments, elephant-hide or black antelope-skins—creating an ominous atmosphere within the war-time setting of Śalya Parva.
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