Shloka 25
प्रावृट्-शरत्-वर्णनम् — Description of the Monsoon and Autumn; Sarasvatī in the Pāṇḍavas’ Exile
पर्वताभोगवर्ष्माणमतिकायं महाबलम् चित्राड़मड़जैश्षित्रैर्हरिद्रासद्शच्छविम्
parvatābhogavarṣmāṇam atikāyaṁ mahābalam | citrāṅgam aṅgajaiś citrair haridrāsadṛśacchavim ||
पर्वताभोगवर्ष्माणमतिकायं महाबलम्। चित्राङ्गमद्भुतैश्चिह्नैर्हरिद्रासदृशच्छविम्॥ चतुर्दंष्ट्रं मुखं तस्य गुहासदृशदर्शनम्। रक्तनेत्रं महाघोरं वह्निवत् प्रज्वलन्निव॥ स मुहुः पार्श्वयोर्जिह्वां लेलिहानः समन्ततः। उच्छ्वासेन च नादेन सिंहनादसमस्वनः॥ कालान्तकयमप्रख्यो भूतानां भयवर्धनः। भर्त्सयन्निव लोकानां तस्थौ स भुजगो भृशम्॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily builds a moral atmosphere rather than stating a doctrine: it evokes how overwhelming, death-like forces (likened to Kālāntaka and Yama) can confront beings in the wilderness of life, reminding the listener of mortality and the need for steadiness and discernment when fearsome appearances arise.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes a terrifying, gigantic serpent in vivid physical detail—mountain-like body, turmeric-yellow hue, strange markings, four gleaming fangs, fiery red eyes, and threatening hisses/roars—establishing the creature as a fearsome presence that intimidates all beings.