Shloka 86

Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

सर्वे नानुगतं चैनं दारुणा: पिशिताशना: । घोररूपा महाकाया धर्षयन्ति द्विजोत्तमम्‌,भयंकर रूप और विशाल शरीरवाले, समस्त क्रूरकर्मा, मांसभक्षी राक्षस भी गायत्रीजपपरायण उस श्रेष्ठ द्विजपर आक्रमण नहीं कर सकते

Transliteration

sarve nānugataṃ cainaṃ dāruṇāḥ piśitāśanāḥ | ghorarūpā mahākāyā dharṣayanti dvijottamam ||

Translation

பயங்கர வடிவமும் பெரும் உடலும் கொண்ட கொடுஞ்செயலாளரும் மாமிசம் உண்ணும் ராட்சசர்களும், காயத்ரி-ஜபத்தில் உறுதியாய் நிலைத்த அந்தச் சிறந்த த்விஜனைத் தாக்க இயலாது.

Word by Word

सर्वेall

नnot

अनुगतम्approached / followed (gone after)

चand

एनम्him

दारुणाःcruel / dreadful

पिशिताशनाःflesh-eaters

घोररूपाःof terrible form

महाकायाःhuge-bodied

धर्षयन्तिassault / violate / attack

द्विजोत्तमम्the best of the twice-born (brahmin)

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

rākṣasas

dvijottama (an eminent brāhmaṇa)

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 the protective power of dharmic discipline—especially mantra-japa and brahminical restraint—suggesting that inner spiritual force can neutralize external violence and keep even cruel beings from transgressing.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira describes a situation where terrifying, flesh-eating rākṣasas are present, yet they cannot successfully assail an eminent brāhmaṇa (described in the Gītā Press context as devoted to Gāyatrī-japa), indicating the brāhmaṇa’s spiritual inviolability.