Chapter 4.7 - The Cheetah (Dvipin) in the Epics

There are references to cheetah in the Ramayana. Valmiki has described cheetah in a special way looking at it from different angles.^[1]

Dvipin means one having spots which resemble islands. They are extremely and have short bodies. They have large spots on the skin. Sometimes they also have lines on the skin. The skin is white or yellow. Their bellies are small. They are very fond of human flesh and also the flesh of deer. They have long tails, long mouths and long scrotums. Their soles, eyes and tongues are red. Their bodies always stink. They love to pass their time under the trees sleeping.