Shloka 20

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

तेषामापततांशीघ्रंनिघ्नतांचापिवानरान् ।।।।द्विविदोगिरिशृङ्गेणजघानैकंनरान्तकम् ।

Transliteration

teṣām āpatatāṃ śīghraṃ nighnatāṃ cāpi vānarān | dvivido giriśṛṅgeṇa jaghānaikaṃ narāntakam ||

Translation

Als jene Rākṣasas rasch heranstürmten und die Vānaras niedermachten, erschlug Dwivida allein Narāntaka mit einem Berggipfel.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• आपतताम्: of those rushing
• आपतताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-pat (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle used as noun), षष्ठी, बहुवचन; 'of those rushing/attacking'

• शीघ्रम्: swiftly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (अव्यय/नपुंसक-रूपेण)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: quickly)

• निघ्नताम्: of those slaying
• निघ्नताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-han (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle used as noun), षष्ठी, बहुवचन; 'of those killing'

• 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)

• वानरान्: Vanaras
• वानरान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• द्विविदः: Dvivida
• द्विविदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvivida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• गिरि-शृङ्गेण: with a mountain peak
• गिरि-शृङ्गेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक) + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: गिरेः शृङ्गम्

• जघान: struck/slew
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नरान्तकम्: Narantaka
• नरान्तकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narāntaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम

Context

Rushing at great speed, the Rakshasas and also killing the Vanaras in that way, Dwivida alone struck down Naranthaka with a mountain peak.

Characters & Entities

• Narāntaka
• Vānaras
• Rākṣasas
• mountain peak (giriśṛṅga)

FAQs

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

It portrays protective heroism: confronting a destructive aggressor to defend one’s allies aligns with dharma when done for a righteous cause.

What is the narrative situation?

During a fierce charge by Rākṣasas, the Vānara hero Dwivida counters decisively by killing Narāntaka with a mountain-peak.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śaurya (courage) and initiative—swift action to neutralize a key threat.