Shloka 61

त्रिशिरा–देवान्तक–महोदर–मत्त

महापार्श्व) वधः | Slaying of Trisira, Devantaka, Mahodara, and Matta (Mahaparsva

Devanagari script

मुहूर्तमासीत्सगतासुकल्पःप्रत्यागतात्मासहसासुरारिः ।उत्पत्यसन्ध्याभ्रसमानवर्णस्तंवारिराजात्मजमाजघान ।।।।

Transliteration

muhūrtam āsīt sa gatāsukalpaḥ pratyāgatātmā sahasā surāriḥ |

utpatya sandhyābhrasamānavarṇas taṃ vārirājātmajam ājaghāna ||

Translation

Einen Augenblick lag der Feind der Götter da, als wäre das Leben aus ihm gewichen; doch plötzlich kam er wieder zu sich, von der Farbe der Abendwolken, sprang empor und schlug den Sohn des Herrn der Wasser (Ṛṣabha).

Word by Word

मुहूर्तम्for a moment

आसीत्was

सगतासुकल्पःas if life had departed

प्रत्यागतात्माwhose spirit returned

सहसाsuddenly

सुरारिःenemy of the gods

उत्पत्यhaving leapt up

सन्ध्याभ्रसमानवर्णःof the color of twilight clouds

तम्him

वारिराजात्मजम्son of the lord of waters

आजघानstruck

Context

For a short while, Mahaparsva, the enemy of gods remained as if life had gone off up and struck the son of waters (Rshaba).

Characters & Entities

Ṛ

Ṛṣabha (vārirājātmaja, a monkey warrior)

FAQs

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

Steadfastness in one’s appointed duty during crisis: even after being stunned, the combatant resumes action—illustrating perseverance (dhṛti) as part of warrior-duty, though framed within the larger adharma–dharma conflict of Laṅkā.

What is the narrative situation?

A Rākṣasa leader, briefly appearing lifeless, regains consciousness and retaliates by striking Ṛṣabha, the warrior identified as Varuṇa’s son.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resilience and sudden recovery under pressure (śaurya with dhairya), showing how quickly fortunes shift in battle.