Shloka 18

बकवधोत्तर-प्रशमनम् | Post-slaying Stabilization after Baka’s Death

Devanagari script

अयं श्यामो महाबाहु: सिंहस्कन्धो महाद्युति: । कम्बुग्रीव: पुष्कराक्षो भर्ता युक्तो भवेन्‍न्मम,(उसने मन-ही-मन सोचा--) “इन श्यामसुन्दर तरुण वीरकी भुजाएँ बड़ी-बड़ी हैं, कंधे सिंहके-से हैं, ये महान्‌ तेजस्वी हैं, इनकी ग्रीवा शंखके समान सुन्दर और नेत्र कमलदलके सदृश विशाल हैं। ये मेरे लिये उपयुक्त पति हो सकते हैं

Transliteration

ayaṁ śyāmo mahābāhuḥ siṁhaskandho mahādyutiḥ | kambugrīvaḥ puṣkarākṣo bhartā yukto bhaven mama ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Nàng thầm nghĩ: “Chàng trai anh hùng da sẫm này có đôi tay lực lưỡng, bờ vai như sư tử, rực rỡ oai quang. Cổ chàng thanh nhã như vỏ ốc tù và, mắt rộng như cánh sen. Chàng hẳn là người chồng xứng đáng cho ta.”

Word by Word

• {'ayam': 'this (person here)', 'śyāmaḥ': 'dark-hued

• often connoting youthful beauty', 'mahābāhuḥ': 'mighty-armed

• possessing great strength', 'siṁha-skandhaḥ': 'lion-shouldered

• having powerful shoulders', 'mahā-dyutiḥ': 'of great radiance

• splendid, illustrious', 'kambu-grīvaḥ': 'conch-necked

• having a neck like a conch (smooth, well-formed)', 'puṣkara-akṣaḥ': 'lotus-eyed

• having eyes like lotus petals (large, beautiful)', 'bhartā': 'husband

• protector/supporter', 'yuktaḥ': 'suitable

• appropriate', 'bhavet': 'may be

• would be', 'mama': 'for me

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse reflects a traditional epic ethic where suitability for marriage is assessed through perceived auspicious qualities—strength, radiance, and noble bearing—suggesting an ideal of a spouse as both protector and worthy partner. It also shows how inner deliberation precedes major life choices.

What is happening in the narrative?

A woman (implied by the context) silently observes a young warrior and, impressed by his appearance and heroic traits, thinks to herself that he would be an appropriate husband. Vaiśampāyana narrates her inward thought.