Shloka 37

Nāga-āyatana-darśana-pratīkṣā — The Brāhmaṇa’s Request and Waiting on the Gomatī

Devanagari script

षष्टिदन्तावष्टदंष्टी मेघौघसदृशस्वनौ । स्वास्यौ पृथुललाटौ च सुभ्रू सुहनुनासिकौ,उनके हाथोंमें हंसका और चरणोंमें चक्रका चिह्न था। विशाल वक्ष:स्थल, बड़ी-बड़ी भुजाएँ, अण्डकोशमें चार-चार बीज, मुखमें साठ दाँत और आठ दाढ़ें, मेघके समान गम्भीर स्वर, सुन्दर मुख, चौड़े ललाट, बाँकी भौंहें, सुन्दर ठोढ़ी और मनोहर नासिकासे उन दोनोंकी अपूर्व शोभा हो रही थी

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭidantāv aṣṭadaṃṣṭī meghaughasadṛśasvanau | svāsyau pṛthulalāṭau ca subhrū suhanunāsikau ||

Translation

Disse Vaiśampāyana: “Tinham sessenta dentes e oito presas salientes; suas vozes ribombavam profundas como uma massa de nuvens de chuva. Seus rostos eram belos, as testas amplas, as sobrancelhas graciosamente arqueadas, e bem formados o queixo e o nariz—de modo que deles emanava um esplendor extraordinário.”

Word by Word

षष्टिदन्तौhaving sixty teeth (the two)

अष्टदंष्टीhaving eight tusks/fangs (the two)

मेघौघसदृशस्वनौwhose sound is like a mass of clouds (thunder-like)

स्वास्यौhaving beautiful faces/mouths

पृथुललाटौbroad-foreheaded

चand

सुभ्रूhaving beautiful eyebrows

सुहनुनासिकौhaving beautiful chins and noses

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse supports a Shanti Parva theme: the ideal ruler or exemplary person is recognized not merely by power but by auspicious signs and dignified presence—symbolizing inner excellence, self-mastery, and fitness for dharmic leadership.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing the extraordinary physical features and imposing, auspicious appearance of the subjects under discussion, emphasizing their beauty and the thunder-like depth of their voices as part of a larger portrayal of ideal qualities.