Shloka 20
धृष्टद्युम्नेन समागतक्षत्रियगणगणना
Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s Enumeration of Assembled Kṣatriyas
असौ मृत्युरिवोग्रेण दण्डेन भगवन्नित: । प्रगृहीतेन काछेन राक्षसो5भ्येति दारुण:,“भगवन्! वह भयंकर राक्षस एक बहुत बड़ा काठ लेकर इधर ही आ रहा है, मानो साक्षात् यमराज भयानक दण्ड लिये आ रहे हैं
asau mṛtyur ivogreṇa daṇḍena bhagavann itaḥ | pragṛhītena kāṣṭhena rākṣaso 'bhyeti dāruṇaḥ ||
“O kagalang-galang! Paparito nang tuwid ang kakila-kilabot na rākṣasa, tangan ang isang napakalaking pamalo ng kahoy bilang sandata—parang si Kamatayan mismo (Yama) na sumusugod na may mabagsik na tungkod.”
गन्धर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a vivid simile—comparing the rākṣasa to Death with a staff—to underscore the immediacy of peril and the ethical need for alertness and protective action when harm approaches.
A Gandharva urgently alerts a revered listener that a terrifying rākṣasa is advancing toward them, holding a large wooden club, appearing as fearsome as Death itself.