Shloka 6.58.59

प्रहस्तवधः (The Slaying of Prahasta)

Devanagari script

नशेकुस्समवस्थातुंनिहतेवाहिनीपतौ ।सेतुबन्धंसमासाद्यविशीर्णंसलिलंयथा ।।।।

Transliteration

na śekuḥ samavasthātuṃ nihate vāhinīpatau | setubandhaṃ samāsādya viśīrṇaṃ salilaṃ yathā ||

Translation

With their commander-in-chief slain, they could not remain steady, just as water cannot be held back when it reaches a breached dam.

Context

The Commander-in-Chief having been killed; the troops could not remain there just as water reached a breached dam.

Characters & Entities

• vāhinīpati (commander-in-chief)
• Prahastha (implied by context)
• Rakshasa army (implied)

FAQs

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

Collective stability depends on responsible leadership; when leadership rooted in adharma fails, the structure of force dissolves quickly.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahastha’s death triggers immediate disarray; the simile explains the army’s collapse as inevitable once the ‘barrier’ is broken.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse indirectly highlights the strategic value of dhāraṇā (steadiness) and disciplined command in righteous warfare.