Shloka 78
Bhīmasena–Hanūmān Saṃvāda: The Tail Test and the Divine Path
किंचिच्चाभुग्नशीर्षेण दीर्घरोमाज्चितेन च | लाडूलेनोर्ध्वगतिना ध्वजेनेव विराजितम्,उनक कंधे चौड़े और पुष्ट थे। अतः उन्होंने बाँहके मूलभागको तकिया बनाकर उसीपर अपनी मोटी और छोटी ग्रीवाको रख छोड़ा था और उनके शरीरका मध्यभाग एवं कटिप्रदेश पतला था। उनकी लंबी पूँछका अग्रभाग कुछ मुड़ा हुआ था। उसकी रोमावलि घनी थी तथा वह पूँछ ऊपरकी ओर उठकर फहराती हुई ध्वजा-सी सुशोभित होती थी
kiṃcic cābhugnaśīrṣeṇa dīrgharomāj citena ca | lāḍūlenordhvagatinā dhvajeneva virājitam |
Vaiśaṃpāyana disse: “A cabeça estava ligeiramente curvada; a pelagem era longa e espessa. E, com a cauda erguida para o alto, ele brilhava como um estandarte, destacando-se em forma e porte.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse is primarily descriptive rather than didactic: it uses vivid physical imagery (a tail raised like a banner) to mark a being’s distinctive presence, a common epic technique to signal significance and draw attention to an encounter that carries narrative or moral weight.
Vaiśaṃpāyana is describing a creature/person’s appearance—its slightly bent head, dense long hair, and an upraised tail compared to a flag—setting the scene and highlighting identifying features before or during an important episode.