Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 98, Shloka 14

महोदरवधः

The Slaying of Mahodara

Devanagari script

रक्षसातेनबाणौघैर्निकृत्तासासहस्रधा ।निपपातशिलाभूमौगृध्रचक्रमिवाकुलम् ।।6.98.14।।

Transliteration

rakṣasā tena bāṇaughair nikṛttā sā sahasradhā |

nipapāta śilā bhūmau gṛdhracakram ivākulam ||6.98.14||

Translation

Severed into a thousand fragments by that rākṣasa’s torrent of arrows, the rock fell to the ground, scattered like a swirling circle of vultures.

Word by Word

• रक्षसा: by the Rakshasa
• रक्षसा: करण/कर्ता (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• तेन: by that
• तेन: करण-विशेषण (Specifier: by that)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; रक्षसा इति विशेषण/अन्वय

• बाणौघैः: with showers of arrows
• बाणौघैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण-ओघ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बाणानाम् ओघः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• निकृत्ता: cut to pieces
• निकृत्ता: कर्म-भाव (State of patient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√कृत् (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शिला इति विशेष्य

• सा: that (rock)
• सा: कर्ता (Grammatical subject of intransitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सहस्रधा: into a thousand pieces
• सहस्रधा: क्रिया-विशेषण (Manner/result)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in a thousand pieces/ways)

• निपपात: fell down
• निपपात: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शिला: the rock
• शिला: कर्ता (Karta/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सा इति समानाधिकरण

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• गृध्रचक्रम्: a flock/circle of vultures
• गृध्रचक्रम्: उपमान (Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र-चक्र (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गृध्राणां चक्रम् = circle/flock); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; इव इति उपमान

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा-सूचक (Comparator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• आकुलम्: confused/turbulent
• आकुलम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; गृध्रचक्रम् इति विशेषणम् (or predicative)

Context

That rock, struck by Mahodara fell on the ground shattered and broken into a thousand pieces.

Characters & Entities

• Mahodara
• Sugrīva
• Bāṇa (arrows)
• Śilā (rock)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse underscores consequences: every act in conflict produces rapid, irreversible results; Dharma urges foresight and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

The rock hurled by Sugrīva is destroyed midair and falls in many pieces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Technical prowess in battle (on Mahodara’s side), shown through decisive counteraction.