Shloka 37

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

सधनुर्धन्विनांश्रेष्ठोविकृष्यपरमाहवे ।।।।नीलायव्यसृजद्बाणान्प्रहस्तोवाहिनीपतिः ।

Transliteration

sa dhanur-dhanvināṃ śreṣṭho vikṛṣya paramāhave |

nīlāya vyasṛjad bāṇān prahasto vāhinīpatiḥ ||6.58.37||

Translation

Prahasta, Heerführer und der Beste unter den Bogenschützen, spannte im erbitterten Kampf seinen Bogen und entsandte Pfeile gegen Nīla.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; here as object with implied verb ‘(gṛhītvā/ādatta)’ or in apposition

• dhanvinām: of archers
• dhanvinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• śreṣṭhaḥ: the best
• śreṣṭhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; superlative adjective qualifying ‘saḥ (prahastaḥ)’

• vikṛṣya: having drawn (the bow)
• vikṛṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-kṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्यय; धातु: कृष् (to draw) with उपसर्ग ‘वि’

• paramāhave: in the fierce/supreme combat
• paramāhave: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + āhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘paramaḥ āhavaḥ’ (supreme battle); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• nīlāya: to/at Nīla
• nīlāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; Dative

• vyasṛjat: released/discharged
• vyasṛjat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: सृज् (to release) with उपसर्ग ‘वि’

• bāṇān: arrows
• bāṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• prahastaḥ: Prahastha
• prahastaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vāhinīpatiḥ: army-commander
• vāhinīpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāhinī (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Prahastha, the commander of the army darted, just as the violent wind blows away mass of clouds, observing Nila coming towards him, in his chariot which was bright as the sun.

Characters & Entities

• Prahasta
• Nīla

FAQs

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

It reflects the kṣātra code: skill and direct engagement. From a Dharmic lens, prowess is ethically neutral unless guided by satya and right purpose—this verse sets up the contest of strength that must be judged within the broader justice of the war.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahasta initiates the duel by shooting arrows at Nīla.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dhanur-vidyā (mastery of archery) and commanding confidence.