Shloka 37
Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve
Gandharva Encounter
Devanagari script
यमस्य पृष्ठतश्चैव घोरस्त्रेशिखर: शित:
Transliteration
yamasya pṛṣṭhataś caiva ghorāstreśikharaḥ śitaḥ
Translation
Mārkaṇḍeya dijo: «Y detrás de Yama se alzaba un arma afilada y terrible—con una cresta como punta en llamas—que acrecentaba el pavor de su presencia».
Word by Word
यमस्यof Yama
यमस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootयम
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
पृष्ठतःfrom behind, at the back
पृष्ठतः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपृष्ठ
FormAdverb (ablatival in sense)
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
FormConjunction
एवindeed, just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
FormParticle
घोरterrible, dreadful
घोर:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootघोर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अस्त्र-शिखरःweapon-point / spearhead (lit. 'weapon-peak')
अस्त्र-शिखरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअस्त्रशिखर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शितःsharp, whetted
शितः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशित
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, Past participle (kta), from √शि (to sharpen)
Speaker
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Characters & Entities
M
MārkaṇḍeyaY
YamaA
astra (weapon)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
The verse underscores Yama’s role as an embodiment of inexorable moral order: death and judgment are not arbitrary but backed by an irresistible, fearsome power that compels accountability.
Mārkaṇḍeya is describing Yama’s formidable appearance, noting that a terrifying, sharp weapon stands behind him, heightening the scene’s sense of dread and authority.