Shloka 19

Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)

Devanagari script

इत्युक्ता राक्षसेन्द्रेण राक्षसा घोरविक्रमा:

Transliteration

ityuktā rākṣasendreṇa rākṣasā ghoravikramāḥ

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „So vom Herrn der Rākṣasas angesprochen, machten sich die Rākṣasas—von schrecklicher Kraft—bereit, entsprechend zu handeln.“

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• उक्ताः: having been spoken to / addressed
• उक्ताः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (उक्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, Passive (past passive participle)

• राक्षसेन्द्रेण: by the lord of the Rakshasas
• राक्षसेन्द्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• राक्षसाः: the Rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• घोरविक्रमाः: of terrible prowess
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोरविक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Rākṣasendra (lord/king of the Rākṣasas)
• Rākṣasāḥ (Rākṣasas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights how a leader’s command mobilizes followers, especially those inclined toward force; ethically, it invites reflection on responsibility—both of the ruler who directs action and of the agents who carry it out.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that after the Rākṣasa-king speaks, the fearsome Rākṣasas respond as a group—implying readiness to execute the instruction that has just been given.