Shloka 23

Devanagari script

यश्चैषनानाविधघोररूपैर्व्याघ्रोष्ट्रनागेन्द्रमृगाश्ववक्त्रै: ।भूतैर्वृतोभातिविवृत्तनेत्स्रैसोऽसौसुराणामपिदर्पहन्ता ।।6.59.23।।त्रैतदिन्दुप्रतिमंविभातिछत्रंसितंसूक्ष्मशलाकमग्य्रम् ।अत्रैषरक्षोधिपतिर्महात्माभूतैर्वृतोरुद्रइवावभाति ।।6.59.24।।

Transliteration

yaś caiṣa nānāvidha-ghora-rūpair vyāghroṣṭra-nāgendra-mṛgāśva-vaktraiḥ |

bhūtair vṛto bhāti vivṛtta-netraiḥ so ’sau surāṇām api darpa-hantā ||6.59.23||

Translation

Kẻ đang rực sáng kia, bị bao quanh bởi các loài quỷ thần mang vô số hình tướng ghê rợn—mặt như hổ, lạc đà, voi chúa, nai và ngựa—mắt đảo cuồng loạn: chính hắn là kẻ nghiền nát cả niềm kiêu mạn của chư thiên.

Word by Word

यःwho

चand

एषthis (one)

नाना-विध-घोर-रूपैःwith various terrible forms

व्याघ्र-उष्ट्र-नागेन्द्र-मृग-अश्व-वक्त्रैःwith faces of tigers, camels, elephant-lords, deer and horses

भूतैःby/with spirits (ghosts)

वृतःsurrounded

भातिshines/appears

विवृत्त-नेत्रैःwith rolling eyes

सःhe

असौthat one

सुराणाम्of the gods

अपिeven

दर्प-हन्ताdestroyer of pride

Context

"One who is surrounded by several hideous forms, like heads of tigers, camels, Lordly elephants and horses, rolling eyes, just as Rudra by his attendants, who is surrounded by Rakshasas and is humbled by the pride of even Devatas, over him shines the white canopy resembling the moon with slender ribs is the king of Rakshasas."

Characters & Entities

Rāvaṇa

Vibhīṣaṇa

Devas (surāḥ)

Bhūtas (spirits/attendants)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse highlights the danger of darpa (pride). Dharma warns that pride—whether in power, lineage, or conquest—leads to moral blindness and ultimately downfall.

What is the narrative situation?

On the battlefield in Laṅkā, Vibhīṣaṇa points out Rāvaṇa to Rāma, describing his fearsome aura and entourage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadiness and discernment are implied: he must recognize splendor without being shaken by it, maintaining dharmic resolve in battle.