Shloka 396

वृत्ति-सत्सङ्ग-दान-धर्म

Livelihood, Virtuous Association, and Ethics of Giving

Devanagari script

हस्वो5तिमात्र रक्ताक्षो हरिश्मश्रुर्विभीषण: । पुरुषप्रवर! उस समय उस आगसे एक नाटा-सा पुरुष उत्पन्न हुआ

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | hrasvo 'timātra-raktākṣo hariśmaśrur vibhīṣaṇaḥ |

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“人中最胜者啊！那时，从那火焰之中生出一个矮小的男子，双目赤红异常。他的胡须与髭须呈黄褐之色，形貌骇人，令人不寒而栗。”

Word by Word

• ह्रस्वः: short (in stature)
• ह्रस्वः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रस्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अतिमात्र: excessively, beyond measure
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतिमात्र

• रक्ताक्षः: red-eyed
• रक्ताक्षः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ताक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हरिश्मश्रुः: having tawny/brown beard (and moustache)
• हरिश्मश्रुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरिश्मश्रु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विभीषणः: terrifying, dreadful
• विभीषणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभीषण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• purushapravara (addressed listener: foremost of men)
• fire (agni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse primarily functions as narrative description, using striking physical traits (red eyes, tawny beard, terrifying form) to signal an ominous or awe-inspiring manifestation. In the ethical frame of the Mahabharata, such depictions often underscore that actions and rites can yield formidable consequences, prompting vigilance and discernment in dharmic conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes an event in which, from a fire, a short and frightening man appears. The figure is characterized by intensely red eyes and tawny facial hair, emphasizing the uncanny and fearsome nature of the manifestation.