Shloka 57

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

वानरान्वानरैरेवजघ्नुस्तेनैरृतर्षभाः ।।।।राक्षसान्राक्षसैरेवजघ्नुस्तेवानराअपि ।

Transliteration

vānarān vānarair eva jaghnus te nairṛtarṣabhāḥ | rākṣasān rākṣasair eva jaghnus te vānarā api ||

Translation

Jene rinderstarken Rākṣasas erschlugen die Vānaras, indem sie andere Vānaras als Waffen gebrauchten; und auch die Vānaras erschlugen die Rākṣasas, indem sie andere Rākṣasas als Waffen gebrauchten.

Word by Word

• vānarān: the Vanaras
• vānarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• vānaraiḥ: by Vanaras
• vānaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• eva: only, indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-avyaya (restrictive particle/अवधारण)

• jaghnuḥ: they struck/killed
• jaghnuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana (pronoun)

• nairṛta-ṛṣabhāḥ: the bulls/chiefs among the Rakshasas
• nairṛta-ṛṣabhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nairṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) "nairṛtānāṃ ṛṣabhāḥ"; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• rākṣasān: the Rakshasas
• rākṣasān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• rākṣasaiḥ: by Rakshasas
• rākṣasaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• eva: only, indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-avyaya

• jaghnuḥ: they struck/killed
• jaghnuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• vānarāḥ: the Vanaras
• vānarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya/Anvaya-avyaya (additive particle/अपि)

Context

The bull among Rakshasas struck at Vanaras with other Vanaras and the monkeys struck Rakshasas with other Rakshasas.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Rākṣasas (Nairṛtas)

FAQs

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

It underlines the dehumanizing nature of adharma in war: beings are reduced to instruments, showing how violence erodes respect for life and dignity.

What is the narrative situation?

The melee becomes so chaotic that fighters grab opponents and use them as bludgeons against others.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Raw strength is foregrounded; ethically, the text implicitly values restraint and righteous intent over mere might.