Shloka 50

Devanagari script

अश्वग्रीव: पुलोमा च स्वर्भानुरमितध्वज: । प्रह्नादो नमुचिर्दक्षो विप्रचित्तिविरोचन:

Transliteration

aśvagrīvaḥ pulomā ca svarbhānur amitadhvajaḥ | prahrādo namucir dakṣo vipracittivirocanaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “Aśvagrīva, Pulomā, Svarbhānu of unfailing banner, Prahrāda, Namuci, Dakṣa, Vipracitti, and Virocana—these are among the prominent (asura) figures being enumerated.” In the ethical frame of the Śānti discourse, the verse functions as a catalog of powerful adversarial beings, reminding the listener that might and fame can belong even to those opposed to dharma, and that true welfare lies in right conduct rather than mere power.

Word by Word

अश्वग्रीवःAshvagriva (horse-necked one; a proper name)

पुलोमाPulomā (proper name)

चand

स्वर्भानुःSvarbhānu (proper name; Rahu in some traditions)

अमितध्वजःAmitadhvaja (of immeasurable banner; proper name/epithet)

प्रह्नादःPrahlāda (proper name)

नमुचिःNamuci (proper name)

दक्षःDakṣa (proper name)

विप्रचित्तिःVipracitti (proper name)

विरोचनःVirocana (proper name)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Aśvagrīva

Pulomā

Svarbhānu

Prahrāda

Namuci

Dakṣa

Vipracitti

Virocana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse, as part of a larger Śānti Parva exposition, underscores that worldly power and celebrated names can belong to forces opposed to dharma; ethical discernment values right conduct over mere might or fame.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is listing notable asura/dānava figures in an enumerative passage, naming several prominent beings as part of a broader discussion that contextualizes power, conflict, and moral order.