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Shloka 8

Saṃvaraṇa–Tapatī Vivāhaḥ (The Marriage of Saṃvaraṇa and Tapatī) — Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva 163

आकर्णाद्‌ भिन्नवक्त्रश्न शड्कुर्णो बिभीषण: । त्रिशिखां भ्रुकुटिं कृत्वा संदश्य दशनच्छदम्‌,मुँहका फैलाव कानोंके समीपतक था, कान भी शंकुके समान लंबे और नुकीले थे। बड़ा भयानक था वह राक्षस। उसने भौंहें ऐसी टेढ़ी कर रखी थीं कि वहाँ तीन रेखाएँ उभड़ आयी थीं और वह दाँतोंसे ओठ चबा रहा था

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: ākarṇād bhinnavaktraś ca śaṅkukarṇo bibhīṣaṇaḥ | triśikhāṁ bhru-kuṭiṁ kṛtvā saṁdaśya daśanacchadam ||

ปากของมันอ้ากว้างราวกับฉีกถึงใบหู หูยาวแหลมดุจกรวย รูปลักษณ์น่าสยดสยอง มันขมวดคิ้วจนเกิดสันนูนสามชั้น แล้วกัดริมฝีปากของตนเองด้วยฟัน แสดงอาการคุกรุ่นด้วยความอาฆาต

आकर्णात्from (up to) the ear
आकर्णात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootआकर्ण
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
भिन्नsplit, torn
भिन्न:
TypeAdjective
Rootभिन्न
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वक्त्रःface, mouth
वक्त्रः:
TypeNoun
Rootवक्त्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शङ्कु-उर्णःhaving cone-like ears
शङ्कु-उर्णः:
TypeAdjective
Rootशङ्कु + उर्ण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
बिभीषणःterrifying
बिभीषणः:
TypeAdjective
Rootबिभीषण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
त्रि-शिखाम्three-crested (form)
त्रि-शिखाम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootत्रि + शिखा
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
भ्रुकुटिम्frown, knitted brows
भ्रुकुटिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभ्रुकुटि
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
कृत्वाhaving made
कृत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormAbsolutive (Gerund)
संदश्यhaving bitten, gnashing
संदश्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसन् + दंश्
FormAbsolutive (Gerund)
दशन-च्छदम्lip-covering of the teeth; the lips
दशन-च्छदम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदशन + छद
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
R
rākṣasa (unnamed)

Educational Q&A

The verse uses physical imagery to signal moral and psychological states: uncontrolled anger and harmful intent manifest outwardly. In epic ethics, such signs warn the listener to recognize adharma-driven impulses and their consequences.

The narrator describes a terrifying rākṣasa’s appearance—gaping mouth, pointed ears, a triple-lined frown, and lip-biting—building tension and indicating imminent aggression.