Shloka 39

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

नीलःशरैरभिहतोनिशितैर्ज्वलनोपमैः ।।।।सतंपरमदुर्धर्षमापतन्तंमहाकपिः ।प्रहस्तंताडयामासवृक्षमुत्पाट्यवीर्यवान् ।।।।

Transliteration

nīlaḥ śarair abhihato niśitair jvalanopamaiḥ |

sa taṃ parama-durdharṣam āpatantaṃ mahākapiḥ |

prahastaṃ tāḍayāmāsa vṛkṣam utpāṭya vīryavān ||6.58.39-40||

Translation

Nīla, von scharfen, feuergleich lodernden Pfeilen getroffen, riss als mächtiger großer Vānara einen Baum aus und schlug Prahasta, als dieser heranstürmte—Prahasta, den überaus schwer zu widerstehenden Gegner.

Word by Word

• nīlaḥ: Nīla
• nīlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Proper noun

• śaraiḥ: by arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• abhihataḥ: struck/hit
• abhihataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-han (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with ‘nīlaḥ’

• niśitaiḥ: sharp
• niśitaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; qualifies ‘śaraiḥ’

• jvalanopamaiḥ: fire-like
• jvalanopamaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jvalana (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/उपमान-समास: ‘jvalanasya upamā’ (like fire); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; qualifies ‘śaraiḥ’

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

• tam: him (that one)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• paramadurdharṣam: most formidable
• paramadurdharṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + durdharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘paramaḥ durdharṣaḥ’ (most formidable); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies ‘tam (prahastam)’

• āpatantam: rushing (towards)
• āpatantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-pat (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies ‘tam’

• mahākapiḥ: the great monkey (chief)
• mahākapiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘mahān kapiḥ’ (great monkey); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to ‘saḥ (nīlaḥ)’

• prahastam: Prahastha
• prahastam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tāḍayāmāsa: struck
• tāḍayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tāḍ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative stem (णिच्) ‘ताडय-’

• vṛkṣam: a tree
• vṛkṣam: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• utpāṭya: having uprooted
• utpāṭya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-pāṭ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्यय; धातु: पाट्/पाटय् (to tear out) with उपसर्ग ‘उत्’

• vīryavān: valiant, powerful
• vīryavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīryavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; possessive adjective

Context

The arrows discharged by Prahastha, penetrated piercing into Nila's body at great speed like infuriated serpents and went straight into the earth.

Characters & Entities

• Nīla
• Prahasta

FAQs

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

The verse models steadfast duty under suffering: even when wounded, Nīla does not abandon the fight, but acts to stop a dangerous aggressor. It reflects Dharmic perseverance—enduring pain to protect one’s community and uphold a righteous cause.

What is the narrative situation?

After being pierced by Prahasta’s arrows, Nīla retaliates immediately by uprooting a tree and striking the charging Prahasta.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣānti with vīrya—endurance combined with valor—shown by Nīla’s ability to continue and counterattack despite injury.