Shloka 14
प्रहस्तवधः
The Slaying of Prahasta
केचिव्दिधाकृताःखडगैःस्फुरन्तःपतिताभुवि ।।।।वानराराक्षसैश्शूलैपार्श्वतश्चावदारिताः ।
kecid vidhākṛtāḥ khaḍgaiḥ sphurantaḥ patitā bhuvi | vānārākṣasaiḥ śūlaiḥ pārśvataś cāvadāritāḥ ||
Einige wurden von Schwertern entzwei gespalten und fielen zuckend zu Boden; und manche Vānaras, von Rākṣasas mit Spießen an den Seiten aufgerissen, brachen zusammen.
Few Vanaras cut into two by Rakshasas fell down and few Vanaras fell on the ground sides of the body cleft ceased life.
FAQs
The verse serves as a cautionary depiction: when conflict escalates beyond restraint, suffering multiplies. Dharma in the epic is not pro-violence; it frames war as a last resort with tragic fallout.
A close-up battlefield image showing Vānaras being slain by Rākṣasas using swords and pikes.
Endurance and fearlessness are implicit on both sides, though the epic’s moral arc ultimately evaluates courage by whether it serves righteous ends.