Shloka 173

Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ

Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony

Devanagari script

सुधावदातं रक्ताक्ष॑ं स्तब्धकर्ण मदोत्कटम्‌ । आवेष्टितकरं घोर चतुर्दष्टं महागजम्‌

Transliteration

sudhāvadātaṃ raktākṣaṃ stabdhakarṇaṃ madotkaṭam | āveṣṭitakaraṃ ghoraṃ caturdaṣṭraṃ mahāgajam ||

Translation

నేను ఆ మహాగజాన్ని చూశాను—సుధవలె ప్రకాశించే తెల్లని వర్ణం, ఎర్రని కళ్లతో, నిలువుగా ఉన్న చెవులతో, మదంతో ఉన్మత్తంగా, చుట్టుకున్న సొండతో, భయంకరంగా, నాలుగు దంతాలతో యుక్తంగా ఉన్నదాన్ని.

Word by Word

• सुधा-वदातम्: bright/white like nectar
• सुधा-वदातम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुधावदात
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रक्त-अक्षम्: red-eyed
• रक्त-अक्षम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ताक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• स्तब्ध-कर्णम्: having erect/stiff ears
• स्तब्ध-कर्णम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तब्धकर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मद-उत्कटम्: fierce with rut/intoxication
• मद-उत्कटम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदोत्कट
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आवेष्टित-करम्: having a coiled/curled trunk
• आवेष्टित-करम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आवेष्टितकर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चतुर्-दष्टम्: four-tusked (lit. four-bitten/with four teeth)
• चतुर्-दष्टम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महा-गजम्: the great elephant
• महा-गजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महागज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (speaker)
• Indra (implied by context)
• Airāvata (implied by context)
• mahāgaja (the great elephant)
• caturdaṣṭra (four tusks)
• kara (trunk)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse primarily functions as a vivid depiction that reinforces reverence for rightful authority and the gravity of dharmic proceedings: divine power is portrayed as majestic and formidable, reminding listeners that moral order (dharma) is upheld not merely by force but by awe-inspiring legitimacy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāsudeva describes the appearance of a colossal, radiant, fearsome elephant—understood in context as Airāvata—characterized by red eyes, upright ears, a coiled trunk, and four tusks, marking the imposing arrival associated with Indra’s presence.