Shloka 20

धूम्राक्षवधः

The Slaying of Dhumrākṣa

Devanagari script

परिघैर्मथिताःकेचिद्भिण्डिवालैर्विदारिताः ।पट्टसैराहता: केचिद्विह्वलन्तोगतासवः ।।6.52.20।।

Transliteration

parighair mathitāḥ kecid bhiṇḍivālair vidāritāḥ | paṭṭasair āhatāḥ kecid vihvalanto gatāsavaḥ ||6.52.20||

Translation

Certains furent écrasés par des barres de fer, d'autres déchirés par des armes bhindivala ; frappés par des haches, ils chancelèrent et perdirent la vie.

Word by Word

परिघैःwith iron bars

मथिताःwere pounded

केचित्some

भिण्डिवालैःwith javelins/bhiṇḍivāla weapons

विदारिताःwere torn/split

पट्टसैःwith axes/swords (paṭṭasa)

आहताःwere struck

केचित्some

विह्वलन्तःreeling/anguished

गत-आसवःlifeless (whose life had gone)

Context

Some were pound by iron bars, some were torn up, some split and some pierced and cut ceased in life.

Characters & Entities

Vānara (Vanaras)

Parigha (iron bar weapon)

Paṭṭasa (axe)

FAQs

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

The verse serves as a sober reminder that adharma-driven aggression produces widespread suffering; dharma requires confronting such violence, even at terrible human cost.

What is the narrative situation?

Rakshasa weaponry inflicts severe casualties; the battlefield is described through the variety of heavy arms used and the resulting deaths.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śaurya (heroic courage) by those who remain engaged amid deadly weaponry; also the narrative emphasis on realism and consequence.