Yama's pole with a human head on top (able to discern good and evil of the dead)
Buddhist mythological reference: the pole held by King Yama (閻魔) that can see and smell the deeds of the deceased. Rare, specialized term.
See also: 閻魔
fuss-pot; complaining about things in the public eye
Figurative use: a person who is overly critical or nosy, as if they have Yama's discerning pole. Rare colloquial expression.
It is said that King Yama's 'seeing eye, smelling nose' pole discerns the good and evil of the dead.
He's like a 'seeing eye, smelling nose,' always finding fault with others.
閻魔 is King Yama himself, while 見る目嗅ぐ鼻 is the specific pole he holds.
From Buddhist mythology: the pole held by King Yama (閻魔) that has a human head on top, with eyes that see and a nose that smells the deeds of the dead. The expression literally means 'seeing eye, smelling nose.'