Shloka 27
The Birth of Tāraka and the Prelude to the Deva–Asura War
Topic-based Title
ततस्तु सिंहरूपेण भीषयामास भामिनीम् । ततो भुजंगरूपेणाप्यदशच्चरणद्वयम्
tatastu siṃharūpeṇa bhīṣayāmāsa bhāminīm | tato bhujaṃgarūpeṇāpyadaśaccaraṇadvayam
Rồi y hóa thân thành sư tử, khiến người thiếu phụ diễm lệ kinh hãi; kế đó lại hóa thành rắn, cắn vào cả hai bàn chân của nàng.
Narrator (contextual speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: forest
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tatastu→ततः तु; भुजंगरूपेणाप्यदशत्→भुजङ्ग-रूपेण अपि अदशत्; अदशच्चरणद्वयम्→अदशत् चरण-द्वयम्
FAQs
The verse describes an unnamed male agent (he) assuming successive forms—a lion and then a serpent—to frighten and harm a woman; the specific identity requires the surrounding verses of Adhyaya 42.
The lion form conveys sudden terror and domination, while the serpent form conveys stealthy, bodily harm; together they intensify the episode’s sense of threat and peril.
Taken in isolation, it warns of the misuse of power and deception—using frightening appearances and covert injury to control another—highlighting the harm caused by intimidation and violence.