Shloka 116

आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः

Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca

Devanagari script

स्थूलस्फिग्‌ विकृतो रूक्ष: श्वयूथपरिवारित: । शंकुकर्णो महावक्त्रो मलिनो घोरदर्शन:

Transliteration

sthūlasphig vikṛto rūkṣaḥ śvayūthaparivāritaḥ | śaṅkukarṇo mahāvaktro malino ghoradarśanaḥ ||

Translation

అతడు నితంబాలలో స్థూలుడై, వికృతంగా, రూక్షంగా కనిపించాడు; కుక్కల గుంపులు చుట్టుముట్టి ఉన్నాయి. అతనికి మొనదేలిన చెవులు, విస్తారమైన నోరు; మలినుడై, చూడటానికి ఘోరంగా ఉన్నాడు.

Word by Word

स्थूलस्फिक्having large buttocks/hips

विकृतःdeformed, misshapen

रूक्षःrough, harsh

श्वयूथपरिवारितःsurrounded by packs of dogs

शंकुकर्णःhaving cone-shaped ears

महावक्त्रःlarge-mouthed, having a huge face/mouth

मलिनःdirty, soiled

घोरदर्शनःterrible to behold, of dreadful appearance

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

dogs (śva-yūtha)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse functions as a moral warning: degraded conduct and adharma are portrayed as leading to a degraded, fearful state, emphasizing that ethical choices shape one’s condition and reputation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing a frightening, impure-looking being—misshapen, filthy, and surrounded by packs of dogs—within a didactic account in the Śānti Parva meant to illustrate consequences and provoke ethical reflection.