Shloka 25

Devanagari script

शरावमर्दे शीघ्रत्वात्‌ कालान्तकयमोपम: । यस्य शस्त्रप्रतापेन प्रणता: सर्वपार्थिवा:

Transliteration

śarāvamarde śīghratvāt kālāntakayama-upamaḥ | yasya śastra-pratāpena praṇatāḥ sarva-pārthivāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “In the crushing of the enemy’s ranks he was swift, resembling Yama, the Ender of Time. By the might and splendor of his weapons, all earthly kings were brought to bow before him.”

Word by Word

शरावमर्देin (the act of) crushing/breaking pots

शीघ्रत्वात्because of swiftness

कालान्तकयमोपमःlike Yama, the ender at the end of time

यस्यwhose

शस्त्रप्रतापेनby the might of (his) weapons

प्रणताःbowed down, submissive

सर्वपार्थिवाःall kings

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yama

kings (pārthivāḥ)

weapons (śastra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how extraordinary speed and disciplined martial power can compel even great rulers to submit; ethically, it reflects the epic’s recognition that political order among kings often rests on demonstrated strength, though such strength is framed as awe-inspiring and fearsome like Yama.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing a formidable figure whose battlefield swiftness and weapon-power are so overwhelming that other kings become submissive, bowing in acknowledgment of his dominance.