Shloka 11

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

बहवोराक्षसायुद्धेबहून्वानरयूधपान् ।।।।वानराराक्षसांश्चापिनिजघ्नुर्बहवोबहून् ।

Transliteration

teṣām anyonyam āsādya saṅgrāmaḥ su-mahān abhūt | bahūnām aśma-vṛṣṭiṁ ca śara-varṣaṁ ca varṣatām ||6.58.10||

Translation

Als sie einander erreichten, entbrannte eine gewaltige Schlacht, und viele auf beiden Seiten ließen Steinregen und Pfeilhagel niedergehen.

Word by Word

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (adjectival)

• राक्षसाः: Rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); अधिकरण (locus)

• बहून्: many
• बहून्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• वानर-यूधपान्: leaders of monkey-troops
• वानर-यूधपान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक) + yūdhapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): वानराणां यूधपाः

• वानराः: Vanaras
• वानराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• राक्षसान्: Rakshasas
• राक्षसान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-भावक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• निजघ्नुः: slew
• निजघ्नुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• बहून्: many
• बहून्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

Context

In the course of war many Rakshasas killed many Vanara leaders and many Vanaras killed many Rakshasas also.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas (implied combatants)
• Vānaras (implied combatants)

FAQs

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

It underscores the gravity of war: once violence is unleashed at scale, suffering multiplies; dharma therefore treats war as weighty and demands restraint, rules, and right purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

The armies collide at close range and the fight escalates into heavy projectile exchanges—stones and arrows in large quantities.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective endurance and martial discipline—withstanding intense volleys requires steadiness, formation, and courage.