Shloka 15

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

वानरैश्चापिसङ्क्रुद्धैराक्षसौघाःसमन्ततः ।।।।पादपैर्गिरिशृङ्गैश्चसम्पिष्टावसुधातले ।

Transliteration

vānaraiś cāpi saṅkruddhair rākṣasaughāḥ samantataḥ | pādapair giriśṛṅgaiś ca sampiṣṭā vasudhātale ||

Translation

Und die Vānaras, vom Zorn entbrannt, zermalmten ringsum die Scharen der Rākṣasas auf dem Erdboden, indem sie Bäume und Berggipfel auf sie schleuderten.

Word by Word

• वानरैः: by Vanaras
• वानरैः: Karana (करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

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

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

• सङ्क्रुद्धैः: enraged
• सङ्क्रुद्धैः: Karana (करण/Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṅ-krudh (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; वानरैः इति विशेषण

• राक्षस-ओघाः: hosts of Rakshasas
• राक्षस-ओघाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: राक्षसानाम् ओघाः (hosts)

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantatas (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: on all sides)

• पादपैः: with trees
• पादपैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• गिरि-शृङ्गैः: with mountain-peaks
• गिरि-शृङ्गैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक) + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: गिरेः शृङ्गाणि

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

• सम्पिष्टाः: crushed
• सम्पिष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-piṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वसुधा-तले: on the earth's surface
• वसुधा-तले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudhā (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: वसुधायाः तलम्

Context

Then the highly enraged Vanaras completely crushed Rakshasas in groups by crushing them on the earth's surface with trees and mountain peaks.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Rākṣasa troops
• trees (pādapa)
• mountain peaks (giriśṛṅga)

FAQs

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

It reflects the epic theme of protecting the righteous cause through united effort. Even so, the verse keeps the reader aware that force, though sometimes necessary, is destructive and must be governed by dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Vānaras retaliate powerfully, using natural weapons—trees and mountain-peaks—to crush Rākṣasa formations.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective courage and determination in service of the wider cause (Rāma’s mission), expressed through coordinated battlefield strength.