Shloka 62

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

क्षुरप्रैरर्धचन्द्रैश्चभल्लैश्चनिशितैश्शरैः ।।।।राक्षसावानरेन्द्राणांबिभिदुःपादपान् शिलाः ।

Transliteration

kṣuraprair ardhacandraiś ca bhallaiś ca niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | rākṣasā vānarendrāṇāṃ bibhiduḥ pādapān śilāḥ ||

Translation

Con flechas agudas —de punta en forma de herradura, de media luna y de bhalla— los Rākṣasas hicieron añicos los árboles y las rocas que empuñaban los caudillos Vānara.

Word by Word

• kṣurapraiḥ: with razor-edged (arrowheads)
• kṣurapraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣurapra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana (arrow-head type)

• ardha-candraiḥ: with half-moon (arrowheads)
• ardha-candraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha (प्रातिपदिक) + candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) 'half-moon (shaped)'; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• bhallaiḥ: with bhalla-arrows
• bhallaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhalla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• niśitaiḥ: sharp
• niśitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √śi/शि "to sharpen"; PPP)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifies śaraiḥ

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• rākṣasāḥ: Rakshasas
• rākṣasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• vānara-indrāṇām: of the Vanara chiefs
• vānara-indrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'lord among Vanaras'; Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• bibhiduḥ: they shattered/pierced
• bibhiduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhid (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana

• pādapān: trees
• pādapān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• śilāḥ: rocks
• śilāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; appositional/secondary object per epic style (trees and rocks)

Context

Rakshasas shattered the Vanara leaders with horseshoe shaped, half-moon shaped, spear shaped sharp arrows, as well as trees and rocks.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Pādapa (trees)
• Śilā (rocks)

FAQs

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

It underscores that skill in arms is morally neutral; dharma judges the intent and cause—whether power serves truth (satya) or tyranny.

What is the narrative situation?

Rākṣasa archers use specialized arrowheads to break the improvised weapons (trees and rocks) of Vānara leaders.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Technical prowess and discipline in warfare (śastra-kauśala), though the epic evaluates it by alignment with dharma.