Shloka 40

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

नीलःशरैरभिहतोनिशितैर्ज्वलनोपमैः ।।6.58.39।।सतंपरमदुर्धर्षमापतन्तंमहाकपिः ।प्रहस्तंताडयामासवृक्षमुत्पाट्यवीर्यवान् ।।6.58.40।।

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

• ājaghāna: struck
• ājaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-han (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: हन् with उपसर्ग ‘आ’

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• nīlam: Nīla
• nīlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• lalāṭe: on the forehead
• lalāṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lalāṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• musalena: with a mace/mallet
• musalena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: musala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

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

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

• paramāyattaḥ: with utmost force/fully intent
• paramāyattaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + āyatta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘paramaḥ āyattaḥ’ (fully intent/with utmost force); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies ‘prahastaḥ’

• tataḥ: thereupon
• tataḥ: Kārya-krama (क्रमसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थक (thereupon/from that)

• susrāva: flowed out
• susrāva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: su-sru (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: स्रु (to flow) with उपसर्ग ‘सु’ (intensive/augment)

• śoṇitam: blood
• śoṇitam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoṇita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject of ‘susrāva’

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.