Shloka 52

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

तमचिन्त्यप्रहारंसप्रगृह्यमुसलंमहत् ।अभिदुद्रावबलिनंबलाननीलंप्लवङ्गमम् ।।।।

Transliteration

tam acintya prahāraṁ sa pragṛhya musalaṁ mahat |

abhidudrāva balinaṁ balāt nīlaṁ plavaṅgamam ||6.58.52||

Translation

Jenen Schlag unbeachtet lassend, ergriff er seine große Keule und stürmte mit Macht auf den starken Nīla, den Affenkrieger, los.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अचिन्त्य-प्रहारः: of irresistible blows
• अचिन्त्य-प्रहारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-cintya (कृदन्त, √cint चिन्तायाम्) + prahāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (having unimaginable/irresistible blows)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रगृह्य: having seized
• प्रगृह्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); (having seized)

• मुसलम्: a mace/mallet
• मुसलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: musala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• महत्: huge
• महत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with मुसलम्)

• अभिदुद्राव: rushed towards
• अभिदुद्राव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√dru (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• बलिनम्: strong
• बलिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with नीलम्/प्लवङ्गमम्)

• बलात्: forcibly
• बलात्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन रूपेण अव्ययीभावार्थे (instrumental used adverbially): बलपूर्वकं (forcibly/with force)

• नीलम्: Nila
• नीलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (proper noun)

• प्लवङ्गमम्: the monkey
• प्लवङ्गमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नीलस्य विशेषण-रूपेण (appositional)

Context

He (Prahastha), not caring for the wound, taking a huge mallet went towards that courageous monkey (Neela).

Characters & Entities

• Prahasta
• Nīla
• musala (mallet)

FAQs

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

It illustrates persistence in conflict: in a dharmic struggle, one is expected to stand firm and continue one’s duty, though the epic also implicitly questions battles driven by adharma at their root.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite being struck, Prahasta does not pause; he grips his mallet and rushes at Nīla to continue the fight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Udyama (energetic effort) and dhṛti (tenacity) are emphasized in Prahasta’s relentless advance.