Shloka 76

Śārṅgakānāṃ Avināśaḥ (Why the Śārṅga Birds Were Spared) | शार्ङ्गकानामविनाशः

Devanagari script

सिंहदर्प महेष्वासं मत्तमातड्रविक्रमम्‌ । मेघदुन्दुभिनिर्घोष॑ पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननम्‌,उसमें सिंहके समान गर्व तथा मतवाले गजराजकी भाँति पराक्रम था। वह महाधनुर्धर वीर अपने गम्भीर स्वरसे मेघ और दुन्दुभिकी ध्वनिको लजा देता था। उसका मुख पूर्ण चन्द्रमाके समान मनमें आह्लाद उत्पन्न करता था

Transliteration

siṁhadarpa maheṣvāsaṁ mattamātaṅgavikramam | meghadundubhinirghoṣaṁ pūrṇacandranibhānanam ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：他是大弓手，傲如雄狮，勇猛如醉态的象王。其深沉之声，使云雷轰鸣与战鼓（敦都毗）之击都仿佛自惭；其面容如满月，令人心生欢悦。此段所写，正是理想英雄之像：强力经由武艺而受节制，其威仪使见者生信且喜。

Word by Word

सिंहदर्पम्having lion-like pride

महेष्वासम्a great archer (great-bowman)

मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमम्having the prowess of an intoxicated elephant

मेघदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषम्having a roar like clouds and a kettle-drum

पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननम्whose face is like the full moon

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

lion (siṁha)

elephant (mātaṅga)

cloud (megha)

kettledrum/war-drum (dundubhi)

full moon (pūrṇa-candra)

bow/archery (implicit in maheṣvāsa)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models the classical heroic ideal: formidable strength and martial competence (archery, valor) paired with an inspiring, auspicious presence. It suggests that true prowess is not merely destructive power but a disciplined excellence that commands respect and uplifts allies.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing a warrior-hero in elevated poetic similes—lion-like pride, elephant-like might, a voice louder than clouds and drums, and a moon-like face—serving as a character portrait that signals exceptional status and battlefield capability.