Shloka 28

Jarāsandha–Bhīma Niyuddha-prastāvaḥ

Commencement of the Regulated Duel

Devanagari script

गोवासमिव वीक्षन्त: सिंहा हैमवता यथा । शालस्तम्भनिभास्तेषां चन्दनागुरुरूषिता:

Transliteration

govāsam iva vīkṣantaḥ siṃhā haimavatā yathā | śālastambhanibhās teṣāṃ candanāgururūṣitāḥ ||

Translation

வைசம்பாயனர் கூறினார்— அவர்கள் பார்வை, இமயச் சிங்கங்கள் மாட்டுத்தொழுவத்தை நோக்குவது போல இருந்தது. அவர்களின் உடல்கள் சால மரத் தூண்களைப் போல உயரமும் உறுதியும் உடையவை; சந்தனமும் அகிலும் பூசப்பட்டு நறுமணம் கமழ்ந்தன.

Word by Word

गोवासम्a cattle-dwelling/settlement (cow-pen, cowherd-hamlet)

इवlike, as

वीक्षन्तःseeing, looking at

सिंहाःlions

हैमवताःHimalayan (of the Himavat)

यथाas, just as

शालस्तम्भनिभाःhaving the likeness of śāla-pillars (pillar-like)

तेषाम्of them

चन्दनागुरुरूषिताःsmeared with sandal and agaru (aloeswood)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Himālaya (Haimavata)

lions (siṃha)

cattle-pen (govāsa)

śāla pillars (śālastambha)

sandalwood (candana)

aloeswood/agarwood (aguru)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how outward refinement (perfumes, regal bearing) can coexist with inner aggression; ethical discernment requires seeing beyond appearances, especially in political assemblies where power often masks predatory intent.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the assembly setting, a group is described as watching others with the threatening focus of Himalayan lions eyeing a cattle enclosure, while their imposing, pillar-like physiques and fragrant anointments underscore both their status and their readiness to dominate.