Shloka 8

शूरलक्षणवर्णनम् | Marks and Typologies of Martial Temperament

Devanagari script

मृगस्वरा द्वीपिनेत्रा ऋषभाक्षास्तरस्विन: । प्रमादिनश्न मन्दाश्ष क्रोधना: किडुकिणीस्वना:

Transliteration

mṛgasvarā dvīpinetrā ṛṣabhākṣās tarasvinaḥ | pramādinaś ca mandāś ca krodhanāḥ kiḍukiṇīsvanāḥ ||

Translation

ଯାହାଙ୍କର ସ୍ୱର ମୃଗ ପରି, ନେତ୍ର ବ୍ୟାଘ୍ରୀ ପରି ଏବଂ ଦୃଷ୍ଟି ଋଷଭ ପରି—ସେମାନେ ପ୍ରାୟ ଧୀର ଓ ବେଗଶାଳୀ ହୁଅନ୍ତି, କିନ୍ତୁ ଅସାବଧାନ ଓ ମନ୍ଦବୁଦ୍ଧି ମଧ୍ୟ। ଆଉ ଯାହାଙ୍କର କଣ୍ଠଧ୍ୱନି କିଙ୍କିଣୀର ଝଙ୍କାର ପରି ମଧୁର—ସେମାନେ ସ୍ୱଭାବତଃ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ କ୍ରୋଧୀ।

Word by Word

• मृगस्वराः: having a voice like a deer
• मृगस्वराः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृगस्वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• द्वीपिनेत्राः: having eyes like a tiger
• द्वीपिनेत्राः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वीपिनेत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ऋषभाक्षाः: having eyes like a bull
• ऋषभाक्षाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋषभाक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तरस्विनः: swift/impetuous, vigorous
• तरस्विनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रमादिनः: careless, negligent
• प्रमादिनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमादिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मन्दाः: dull, slow-witted
• मन्दाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्द
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• क्रोधनाः: wrathful, irascible
• क्रोधनाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• किङ्किणीस्वनाः: having a sound like a tinkling bell
• किङ्किणीस्वनाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किङ्किणीस्वन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• mṛga (deer)
• dvīpin (tigress/leopard)
• ṛṣabha (bull)
• kiṅkiṇī (small bell/anklet-bell)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma links outward traits (voice and eyes) with inner dispositions (speed, heedlessness, dullness, anger), urging discernment in judging temperament and in choosing whom to trust or empower—an ethical lesson in careful evaluation and self-restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and practical governance. Here he gives a diagnostic observation about human nature—how certain observable features are traditionally taken as indicators of behavioral tendencies.