Shloka 38
अध्याय १ — न्यग्रोधवनोपवेशनम् तथा द्रौणिनिश्चयः
Night at the Banyan and Drauṇi’s Resolve
महास्वनं महाकायं हर्यक्ष॑ं बभ्रुपिड्गलम् सुदीर्घधघोणानखरं सुपर्णमिव वेगितम्,उसकी बोली बड़ी भयंकर थी। डील-डौल भी बड़ा था। आँखें काले रंगकी थीं, उसका शरीर भूरा और पिंगलवर्णका था। उसकी चोंच और पंजे बहुत बड़े थे और वह गरुड़के समान वेगशाली जान पड़ता था
mahāsvanaṃ mahākāyaṃ haryakṣaṃ babhrupiṅgalam | sudīrghaghrāṇanakharaṃ suparṇam iva vegitam ||
Disse Sañjaya: “Tinha voz de trovão e corpo enorme; seus olhos eram amarelados, e o corpo, pardo com um tom vermelho-dourado. O bico e as garras eram longuíssimos, e parecia veloz como Garuḍa.” A descrição intensifica a atmosfera sinistra do ataque noturno, apresentando uma presença predatória e temível que espelha o adharma e o terror do massacre iminente.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a terrifying, Garuḍa-like predator image to underline how violence—especially in a stealthy night massacre—creates an atmosphere of dread and moral darkness; the narrative signals that such acts align with adharma and invite ominous consequences.
Sañjaya is describing a fearsome, fast-moving bird-like presence with a dreadful cry, huge body, and long beak and talons—an ominous sight that intensifies the tension surrounding the events of the Sauptika (night-raid) episode.