Shloka 117
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
परिघो नाम चाण्डाल: शस्त्रपाणिरदृश्यत | तदनन्तर प्रातःकाल परिघ नामक चाण्डाल हाथमें हथियार लेकर आता दिखायी दिया। उसकी आकृति बड़ी विकराल थी। शरीरका रंग काला और पीला था। उसका नितम्ब भाग बहुत स्थूल था। कितने ही अंग विकृत हो गये थे। वह स्वभावका रूखा जान पड़ता था। कुत्तोंसे घिरा हुआ वह मलिनवेषधारी चाण्डाल बड़ा भयंकर दिखायी दे रहा था
parigho nāma cāṇḍālaḥ śastrapāṇir adṛśyata | tadanantaraṁ prātaḥkāle parigha-nāmakaś cāṇḍālaḥ hastam̐ śastraṁ gṛhītvā dṛśyate sma | tasya ākṛtir mahāvikarālā āsīt | śarīra-varṇaḥ kṛṣṇa-pītaḥ | nitamba-deśaḥ atisthūlaḥ | bahavaḥ aṅgāni vikṛtāni | sa svabhāvena rūkṣa iva pratibhāti | śvābhiḥ parivṛtaḥ sa malinaveṣadhārī cāṇḍālo bhīṣaṇaḥ babhūva | tasya mukhaṁ viśālaṁ karṇāś ca bhittiṣu nikhātakīlā iva babhūvuḥ || taṁ dṛṣṭvā yamadūtāḥ mārjāriḥ trastacetanaḥ ||
Bhishma disse: Viu-se um chandala chamado Parigha, empunhando uma arma. Depois, ao amanhecer, esse chandala de nome Parigha apareceu novamente com a arma na mão. Sua forma era terrivelmente pavorosa: a compleição escura e amarelada, as ancas muito grandes, muitos membros deformados, e uma aspereza que parecia ser de sua natureza. Cercado por cães e vestido com roupas imundas, era assustador; a boca era enorme, e as orelhas pareciam estacas cravadas numa parede. Ao vê-lo, os mensageiros de Yama — e Marjari — foram tomados de medo.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a terrifying apparition—an armed, impure, and deformed figure—to signal the moral consequences of harsh and defiling conduct. In the Shanti Parva’s ethical frame, such imagery warns that adharma and cruelty lead to degradation and fear, aligning with Yama’s domain of justice and retribution.
Bhishma describes the appearance of a Chandala named Parigha at dawn, carrying a weapon and surrounded by dogs, with a grotesque and frightening body. The sight is so dreadful that even Yama’s messengers, along with a figure named Marjari, become terrified.