Shloka 19

Raivataka-giri Mahotsava and the Counsel on Subhadrā’s Marriage (रैवतके महोत्सवः — सुभद्राविवाहोपायविचारः)

Devanagari script

अहं पूर्वमहं पूर्वमित्यन्योन्यं निजघ्नतु: । तौ गदाभिहतौ भीमौ पेततुर्थरणीतले,'पहले मैं इसे प्राप्त करूँगा”, “नहीं, पहले मैं'; ऐसा कहते हुए दोनों एक-दूसरेको मारने लगे। इस प्रकार गदाओंकी चोट खाकर वे दोनों भयानक दैत्य धरतीपर गिर पड़े

Transliteration

ahaṃ pūrvam ahaṃ pūrvam ity anyonyaṃ nijaghnatuḥ | tau gadābhihatau bhīmau petatur raṇitāle ||

Translation

Nārada sprach: Rufend: „Ich zuerst — nein, ich zuerst!“, schlugen sie in Rivalität aufeinander ein. Von den Hieben ihrer Keulen zerschmettert, stürzten jene beiden schrecklichen Wesen auf den Boden des Schlachtfeldes.

Word by Word

अहम्I

पूर्वम्first, beforehand

अहम्I

पूर्वम्first

इतिthus (quotative)

अन्योन्यम्each other, mutually

निजघ्नतुःthey struck/killed (each other)

तौthose two

गदा-अभिहतौstruck by a mace

भीमौterrible, fearsome

पेततुःthey fell

उरु-थरणी-तलेon the broad earth-surface (battlefield ground)

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

two unnamed combatants (daityas/asuras implied by Hindi gloss)

gadā (mace)

raṇitāla (battlefield/ground)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how the obsession to be ‘first’—driven by greed and ego—destroys discernment and dharma, leading rivals to harm each other until both fall. It is a caution against possessiveness and competitive pride.

What is happening in the narrative?

Two fearsome opponents quarrel over who will obtain something first. In their mutual aggression they strike each other, are battered by mace-blows, and finally collapse onto the battlefield.