Shloka 53

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

तमुग्रवेगंसंरब्धमापतन्तंमहाकपिः ।ततस्सम्प्रेक्ष्यजग्राहमहावेगोमहाशिलाम् ।।।।

Transliteration

tam ugra-vegaṁ saṁrabdham āpatantaṁ mahākapiḥ |

tataḥ samprekṣya jagrāha mahā-vego mahā-śilām ||6.58.53||

Translation

Als der große Affe ihn mit wildem, ungestümem Ansturm heranstürzen sah, ergriff er, schnell wie der Wind, einen gewaltigen Felsblock.

Word by Word

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

• उग्र-वेगम्: of fierce speed
• उग्र-वेगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with तम्)

• संरब्धम्: furious
• संरब्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃrabdha (कृदन्त, √rabdh/√rabh आरम्भे/उद्यमे)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (enraged/impetuous)

• आपतन्तम्: charging (towards)
• आपतन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√pat (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (coming/charging)

• महाकपिः: the great monkey
• महाकपिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थे (then)

• सम्प्रेक्ष्य: having seen
• सम्प्रेक्ष्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pra-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); (having looked at/observed)

• जग्राह: seized
• जग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• महावेगः: the very swift one
• महावेगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद-विशेषणभावः (the swift one)

• महाशिलाम्: a huge rock
• महाशिलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Then, seeing Prahastha waging and coming towards him, the great monkey, Neela, endowed with high speed threw a huge rock.

Characters & Entities

• Nīla
• Prahasta
• rock (śilā)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes prajñā (clear judgment) under pressure: the verse highlights timely, proportionate response to danger in protecting one’s side.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahasta charges; Nīla quickly assesses the threat and prepares a counterstrike by taking up a huge rock.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sphūrti and pratyutpanna-mati (alertness and quick-witted readiness) are emphasized in Nīla’s response.