Shloka 19
Aśvatthāmā’s Stuti of Rudra and Śiva’s Empowerment (सौप्तिकपर्व, अध्याय ७)
कूर्मनक्रमुखा श्वैव शिशुमारमुखास्तथा । महामकरवक्त्राश्ष॒ तिमिवक्त्रास्तथैव च,इसी प्रकार बहुत-से गण कछुए, नाकें, सूँस, बड़े-बड़े मगर, तिमि नामक मत्स्य, मोर, क्रौंच (कुरर), कबूतर, हाथी, परेवा तथा मदगु नामक जलपक्षीके समान मुखवाले थे
kūrma-nakra-mukhāś caiva śiśumāra-mukhās tathā | mahā-makara-vaktrāś ca timi-vaktrās tathaiva ca ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: “Mayroon pang maraming pangkat na ang mukha’y gaya ng pagong at buwaya; gayundin yaong may mukha ng śiśumāra (dolphin sa ilog). Ang ilan ay may nakanganga at malalaking bibig na gaya ng dambuhalang makara; at ang iba nama’y may bibig na gaya ng isdang timi.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contributes an ethical warning through imagery: when violence and vengeance dominate, the world is perceived as monstrous and terrifying. The narrative atmosphere underscores how adharma distorts perception and leads to भय (fear) and moral darkness.
Sañjaya is describing frightening, animal-faced groups—turtle-, crocodile-, dolphin-, makara-, and timi-mouthed forms—used to intensify the dread and ominous tone surrounding the night events of the Sauptika Parva.