Shloka 54

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

ततश्शैलैश्चखडगैश्चविसृष्टैर्हरिराक्षसैः ।।।।मुहूर्तेनावृताभूमिरभवच्छोणिताप्लुता ।

Transliteration

tataḥ śailaiś ca khaḍgaiś ca visṛṣṭair hari-rākṣasaiḥ |

muhūrtenāvṛtā bhūmir abhavac choṇitāplutā ||

Translation

Dann, von Felsen und Schwertern, die Vānaras und Rākṣasas schleuderten, war die Erde in einem Augenblick bedeckt und schien von Blut überflutet.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रम/हेतुबोधक (adverb: 'then/thereupon')

• शैलैः: with rocks
• शैलैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• खडगैः: with swords
• खडगैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खडग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विसृष्टैः: hurled
• विसृष्टैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-सृज् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; 'hurled/let loose' (agreeing with शैलैः/खडगैः understood)

• हरि-राक्षसैः: by monkeys and Rakshasas
• हरि-राक्षसैः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व ('by monkeys and Rakshasas'), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• मुहूर्तेन: in a short while
• मुहूर्तेन: Karana (करण/Time-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; काल-करण (instrument of time)

• आवृता: covered
• आवृता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-वृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to भूमिः

• भूमिः: the earth
• भूमिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शोणित-आप्लुता: flooded with blood
• शोणित-आप्लुता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोणित (प्रातिपदिक) + आप्लुत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from आ-प्लु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष ('flooded with blood'), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to भूमिः

Context

Then in a short while the battlefield was covered with blood and rocks and swords used by the monkeys and Rakshasas.

Characters & Entities

• Vanaras (hari)
• Rākṣasas
• Rocks
• Swords
• Earth/ground (bhūmi)
• Blood (śoṇita)

FAQs

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

The verse serves as a sober reminder: even a dhārmic war produces suffering. Dharma therefore includes responsibility, restraint, and the pursuit of peace once justice is secured.

What is the narrative situation?

The fight becomes so intense that weapons litter the ground and blood rapidly saturates the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes not a personal virtue but a thematic lesson: awareness of war’s consequences, urging ethical reflection alongside heroism.