Valmiki Ramayana 6.98.9 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 98, Shloka 9

महोदरवधः

The Slaying of Mahodara

Devanagari script

महोदरस्तुसङ्कृद्धश्शरैःकाञ्चनभूषणैः ।चिच्छेदपाणिपादोरुन्वानराणांमहाहवे ।।6.98.9।।

Transliteration

mahodaras tu saṅkruddhaḥ śaraiḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ |

ciccheda pāṇipādorūn vānarāṇāṃ mahāhave ||6.98.9||

Translation

غير أنّ ماهودارا، وقد استبدّ به الغضب، قطع في تلك المعركة العظمى أيديَ الفانارا وأقدامَهم وأفخاذَهم بسهامٍ مزيّنةٍ بالذهب.

Word by Word

• महोदरः: Mahodara
• महोदरः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• सुसङ्कृद्धः: highly enraged
• सुसङ्कृद्धः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु- + सङ्कृद्ध (कृदन्त; √क्रुध् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग/उपपद: सु- (intensifier)

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• काञ्चनभूषणैः: adorned with gold ornaments
• काञ्चनभूषणैः: करण-विशेषण (Qualifier of instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन-भूषण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (काञ्चनस्य भूषणम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; शरैः इति विशेषणम्

• चिच्छेद: cut off/severed
• चिच्छेद: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पाणिपादोरून्: hands, feet, and thighs
• पाणिपादोरून्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि + पाद + ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक; समाहार-द्वन्द्व)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (पाणयश्च पादाश्च ऊरवश्च); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• वानराणाम्: of the Vanaras
• वानराणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• महाहवे: in the great battle
• महाहवे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाहव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् हवः/आहवः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Context

Thereafter, the mighty and brilliant Mahodara, in obedience to the word of the king, inspired by his own valour, went to fight with Vanaras.

Characters & Entities

• Mahodara
• Vānaras
• Arrows (śara)

FAQs

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

It underscores the destructiveness of krodha (anger) in war; Ramayana repeatedly treats uncontrolled rage as a force that deepens violence and suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Mahodara escalates the fight, wounding the Vānaras severely with decorated arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

From Mahodara’s side, martial intensity; ethically, the verse contrasts skill with the moral danger of anger-driven cruelty.