Shloka 171
The Tārakāmaya War: Divine Mustering, Māyā Countermeasures, Aurva Fire, and Viṣṇu’s Slaying of Kālanemi
धूम्रकेशो हरिश्मश्रुर्दंतुरो विकटाननः । त्रैलोक्यांतरविस्तारं धारयन्विपुलं वपुः
dhūmrakeśo hariśmaśrurdaṃturo vikaṭānanaḥ | trailokyāṃtaravistāraṃ dhārayanvipulaṃ vapuḥ
ด้วยเส้นผมสีเทาดุจควันและเคราสีน้ำตาลทอง มีฟันยื่นและพักตร์น่าเกรงขาม เขาทรงกายมหึมาราวกับแผ่ครอบคลุมห้วงภายในแห่งไตรโลกา
Unspecified narrator (context-dependent within Adhyaya 41)
Concept: Even the mightiest, most terrifying forms remain within the cosmic order overseen by the Supreme; fearsome appearances signal the gravity of adharma and the necessity of divine protection.
Application: When confronted by intimidating forces (outer or inner), remember scale is not sovereignty; cultivate steadiness and seek refuge in the sustaining principle (dharma/bhakti) rather than panic.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A colossal, smoke-grey–haired being with tawny beard and protruding teeth looms across the inner expanse of the three worlds, his fearsome face half-lit by a stormy, ash-colored glow. The horizon bends under his vastness, with faint silhouettes of celestial cities and earthly mountains dwarfed beneath him, suggesting a universe held in suspense.","primary_figures":["Colossal fearsome being (asura/daitya-like)","Distant devas (tiny, alarmed silhouettes)"],"setting":"Cosmic vista spanning heaven, mid-space, and earth; layered clouds, faint celestial palaces, and miniature continents below.","lighting_mood":"storm-lit, apocalyptic twilight with intermittent divine radiance at the edges","color_palette":["ash grey","burnt umber","blood red","indigo black","pale lightning white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a towering fearsome cosmic figure with smoke-grey hair and tawny beard, protruding teeth and wide terrifying face, spanning the three worlds; miniature devas at the margins; heavy gold leaf halos around celestial strata, rich crimson and emerald accents on ornaments, gem-studded details, stylized South Indian iconographic clouds and layered cosmic bands.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical yet ominous cosmic landscape with delicate brushwork; the giant figure rendered with refined facial features but terrifying expression, sidelong red eyes hinted; cool indigo sky, misty layers of heaven and earth, tiny devas in pale garments; Himalayan-like atmospheric depth and soft gradients.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and monumental frontality; the fearsome being with exaggerated eyes and teeth, smoke-grey hair, tawny beard; flat yet powerful cosmic bands for the three worlds; natural pigment palette with strong reds, yellows, greens; temple-wall aesthetic intensity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: cosmic backdrop with ornate floral borders and lotus motifs turned ominous; deep blue field with gold highlights; the colossal figure dominating center while tiny celestial attendants scatter; intricate patterning on ornaments, stylized clouds, and symbolic three-world bands."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["low temple drum","distant thunder","conch shell (faint)","wind rush","tense silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हरिश्मश्रुर्दंतुरो = हरिश्मश्रुः + दन्तुरः; त्रैलोक्यांतरविस्तारं = त्रैलोक्य-अन्तर-विस्तारम्; धारयन्विपुलं = धारयन् + विपुलम्.
FAQs
It depicts a formidable figure—grey-haired, tawny-bearded, protruding-toothed—whose immense body appears to fill or span the intervening expanse of the three worlds (trailokya).
Not directly; it is primarily descriptive, using vivid physical imagery to convey cosmic scale and awe, which can support a devotional or mythic atmosphere depending on the surrounding narrative.
Such imagery magnifies the sense of power and otherworldliness, helping the listener visualize beings or forces operating on a cosmic stage—common in Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa-style creation and cosmological narration.