Mahabharata · 1.217.4–5
॥
Devanāgarī
खाण्डवे दह्यमाने तु भूतान्य् अथ सहस्रशः ॥
उत्पेतुर् भैरवान् नादान् विनदन्तो दिशो दश ॥
दग्धैकदेशा बहवो निष्टप्ताश् च तथापरे ॥
स्फुटिताक्षा विशीर्णाश् च विप्लुताश् च विचेतसः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
khāṇḍave dahyamāne tu bhūtāny atha sahasraśaḥ ||
utpetur bhairavān nādān vinadanto diśo daśa ||
dagdhaikadeśā bahavo niṣṭaptāś ca tathāpare ||
sphuṭitākṣā viśīrṇāś ca viplutāś ca vicetasaḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
खाण्डवे दह्यमाने तु भूतानि अथ सहस्रशःkhāṇḍave dahyamāne tu bhūtāni atha sahasraśaḥwhen Khandava was burning, creatures by the thousands
उत्पेतुः भैरवान् नादान् विनदन्तः दिशः दशutpetuḥ bhairavān nādān vinadantaḥ diśaḥ daśaleapt up, uttering fearful cries, filling the ten directions;
दग्धैकदेशाः बहवः निष्टप्ताः च तथा अपरेdagdhaikadeśāḥ bahavaḥ niṣṭaptāḥ ca tathā aparemany, with parts of their bodies burnt, and others, scorched,
स्फुटिताक्षाः विशीर्णाः च विप्लुताः च विचेतसःsphuṭitākṣāḥ viśīrṇāḥ ca viplutāḥ ca vicetasaḥwith eyes burst, torn apart, thrashing, senseless, they perished;
भूतान्य्bhūtānyoriginal form "bhūtāny", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
उत्पेतुर्utpeturoriginal form "utpetur", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
विनदन्तोvinadantooriginal form "vinadanto", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
दिशोdiśooriginal form "diśo", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
दग्धैकदेशाdagdhaikadeśāoriginal form "dagdhaikadeśā", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
बहवोbahavooriginal form "bahavo", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
निष्टप्ताश्niṣṭaptāśoriginal form "niṣṭaptāś", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
तथापरेtathāpareoriginal form "tathāpare", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
स्फुटिताक्षाsphuṭitākṣāoriginal form "sphuṭitākṣā", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
विशीर्णाश्viśīrṇāśoriginal form "viśīrṇāś", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
विप्लुताश्viplutāśoriginal form "viplutāś", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
"When Khandava was burning, creatures by the thousands leapt up, uttering fearful cries, filling the ten directions; many, with parts of their bodies burnt, and others, scorched, with eyes burst, torn apart, thrashing, senseless, perished."
Version
f76217217f5a · published Jul 12, 2026, 6:11:48 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here scripture does not turn its gaze from the suffering of the creature. It is telling that the agonies of the dying are described without concealment: the suffering of the living is great and grievous. Here is a reminder of the universality of suffering in samsara, calling one to compassion and to the search for deliverance. Thus scripture reveals the sorrow of existence, and to the one who beholds it, the transience of the flesh is laid bare.