Shloka 50

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

आजघानतदानीलंललाटेमुसलेनसः ।प्रहस्तःपरमायत्तस्ततस्सुस्रावशोणितम् ।।।।

Transliteration

ājaghāna tadā nīlaṁ lalāṭe musalena saḥ |

prahastaḥ paramāyattaḥ tataḥ susrāva śoṇitam ||6.58.50||

Translation

Da schlug Prahasta schnell zu und traf Nīla mit einer Keule auf die Stirn; sofort strömte Blut hervor.

Word by Word

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

• sāyakaḥ: arrow
• sāyakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rāvaṇa-bāhu-muktaḥ: released from Ravana’s arms
• rāvaṇa-bāhu-muktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक) + mukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (agent/source sense): ‘rāvaṇasya bāhubhyām muktaḥ’ (released by Ravana’s arms); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies ‘sāyakaḥ’

• śakrāśani-prakhya-vapuḥ: having a form like Indra’s thunderbolt
• śakrāśani-prakhya-vapuḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक) + aśani (प्रातिपदिक) + prakhya (प्रातिपदिक) + vapuṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: ‘śakrāśanivat prakhyaṃ vapuḥ yasya saḥ’ (whose body is like Indra’s thunderbolt); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies ‘sāyakaḥ’

• śitāgraḥ: sharp-pointed
• śitāgraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śita (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘śitam agraṃ yasya’ (sharp-pointed); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies ‘sāyakaḥ’

• sugrīvam: Sugrīva
• sugrīvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Proper noun

• āsādya: having reached
• āsādya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-sad (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्यय; धातु: सद् (to reach/approach) with उपसर्ग ‘आ’

• bibheda: pierced
• bibheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• vegāt: with force/violently
• vegāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; Ablative (cause/manner)

• guha-īrita-krauñcam: the Krauñca (bird/target) driven by Guha
• guha-īrita-krauñcam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guha (प्रातिपदिक) + īrita (प्रातिपदिक) + krauñca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘guhena īritaḥ krauñcaḥ’ (Krauñca set in motion/shot by Guha); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; upamāna-object with ‘iva’

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-marker (उपमानसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय

• ugraśaktiḥ: a fierce weapon/power
• ugraśaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘ugrā śaktiḥ’ (fierce power/weapon); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to ‘sāyakaḥ’

Context

Then Prahastha struck speedily with a mallet and hit Neela on the forehead and blood flowed from there.

Characters & Entities

• Prahasta
• Nīla
• musala (mallet)

FAQs

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

Dharma in war is shown as direct accountability: actions in battle have immediate consequences, and endurance under injury becomes part of righteous steadfastness when fighting for a just cause.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahasta lands a forceful blow on Nīla’s forehead with a mallet, drawing blood and intensifying the duel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣānti and dhairya (endurance and composure under pain) are implied as Nīla remains engaged despite injury.