Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 98, Shloka 24

महोदरवधः

The Slaying of Mahodara

Devanagari script

स तमुद्यम्यचिक्षेपसोऽऽप्यन्यांव्याक्षिपद्गदाम् ।भिन्नावन्योन्यमासाद्यपेततुद्दरणीतले ।।6.98.24।।

Transliteration

sa tam udyamya cikṣepa so 'py anyāṁ vyākṣipad gadām |

bhinnāv anyonyam āsādya petatur dharaṇī-tale ||6.98.24||

Translation

Sugrīva lifted and hurled that club; Mahodara too flung another mace in return. Meeting each other mid-course, both weapons shattered and fell upon the earth.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• भिन्न-प्रहरणौ: with weapons broken
• भिन्न-प्रहरणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भिन्नानि प्रहरणानि यस्य)

• मुष्टिभ्याम्: with (their) fists
• मुष्टिभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन; करण

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• समीयतुः: closed in (fought)
• समीयतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-इ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• तेजः-बल-समाविष्टौ: filled with energy and strength
• तेजः-बल-समाविष्टौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्-आ-विश् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तेजसा बलेन च समाविष्टौ = possessed of energy and strength)

• दीप्तौ: blazing
• दीप्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• हुताशनौ: two fires
• हुताशनौ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुताशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (हुतं अश्नाति = fire)

Context

Then, energetic Sugriva picked from the ground a frightening steel club encrusted with gold on all sides.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Mahodara
• gadā (mace)
• musala (club)
• dharaṇī (earth)

FAQs

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

Even amid violence, the Ramayana frames combat as regulated contest: both act openly and accept reciprocal risk, underscoring fairness within the battlefield code.

What is the narrative situation?

Both sides exchange heavy missiles; the projectiles collide and break, forcing the duel into closer, more bodily combat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sāhasa (boldness) and parity—neither yields; each answers the other’s move with equal force.