Санджая
संजय उवाच
लोहिताक्षो महाकायस् ताम्रास्यो निम्नितोदरः ॥
ऊर्ध्वरोमा हरिश्मश्रुः शङ्कुकर्णो महाहनुः ॥
आकर्णाद् दारितास्यश् च तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रः करालवान् ॥
सुदीर्घताम्रजिह्वोष्ठो लम्बभ्रूः स्थूलनासिकः ॥
नीलाङ्गो लोहितग्रीवो गिरिवर्ष्मा भयंकरः ॥
महाकायो महाबाहुर् महाशीर्षो महाबलः ॥
विकचः परुषस्पर्शो विकटोद्बद्धपिण्डिकः ॥
स्थूलस्फिग् गूढनाभिश् च शिथिलोपचयो महान् ॥
saṃjaya uvāca
lohitākṣo mahākāyas tāmrāsyo nimnitodaraḥ ||
ūrdhvaromā hariśmaśruḥ śaṅkukarṇo mahāhanuḥ ||
ākarṇād dāritāsyaś ca tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭraḥ karālavān ||
sudīrghatāmrajihvoṣṭho lambabhrūḥ sthūlanāsikaḥ ||
nīlāṅgo lohitagrīvo girivarṣmā bhayaṃkaraḥ ||
mahākāyo mahābāhur mahāśīrṣo mahābalaḥ ||
vikacaḥ paruṣasparśo vikaṭodbaddhapiṇḍikaḥ ||
sthūlasphig gūḍhanābhiś ca śithilopacayo mahān ||
Red-eyed, huge-bodied, copper-faced, with a hollow belly, with bristling hair, red-bearded, with awl-shaped ears, with a great jaw; with a mouth split open to the ears, with sharp fangs, terrible, with an exceedingly long copper tongue and lips, with drooping brows, thick-nosed; blue-bodied, red-necked, mountain-sized, striking fear, huge-bodied, mighty-armed, large-headed, immensely strong; shaggy-haired, rough to the touch, with monstrously swollen calves, thick-buttocked, with a deep navel, loose of build, enormous.
7557aca998bf · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:49:34 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Ghatotkacha's appearance is described in great detail -- and everything in it is excessive, misshapen, terrible: a mountain of flesh, a mouth split to the ears, fangs and a copper tongue. It is telling that the epic does not turn away from the monstrous, but presents it in its full force. The verse teaches that what is terrible and ugly also carries power within it; and one whose appearance terrifies may be a faithful protector of his own -- for the worth of a being lies not in the beauty of its face but in the loyalty and valor of its spirit.