Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 39

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

केतुर्मूर्धनिगृध्रोऽस्यनिलीनोदक्षिणामुखः ।तुदन्नुभयतःपार्श्वंसमग्रामहरत्प्रभाम् ।।।।

Transliteration

ketur mūrdhani gṛdhro ’sya nilīno dakṣiṇāmukhaḥ | tudann ubhayataḥ pārśvaṁ samagraṁ harat prabhām ||

Translation

તેના ધ્વજના શિખરે દક્ષિણમુખી ગીધ બેસી ગયો; બંને બાજુ ચાંચ મારતો તે જાણે તેની સર્વ કાંતિ હરી લેતો હોય—પરાજયનું સ્પષ્ટ અશુભ શકુન.

Word by Word

• sāratheḥ: of the charioteer
• sāratheḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• bahuśaḥ: many times
• bahuśaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahuśaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

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

• asya: of him
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• saṅgrāmam: battle
• saṅgrāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅgrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• avagāhataḥ: while entering/plunging into
• avagāhataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-gāh (कृदन्त, √gāh धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) in Genitive Singular (षष्ठी एकवचन), Masculine; ‘of (one) entering/plunging into’

• pratodaḥ: whip, goad
• pratodaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratoda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nyapatat: fell down, slipped
• nyapatat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• hastāt: from (his) hand
• hastāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• sūtasya: of the charioteer
• sūtasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• haya-sādinaḥ: of the horse-driver
• haya-sādinaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक) + sādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘horse’ + ‘rider/driver’

Context

Ravana, the Lord of Rakshasas seeing the city besieged, spoke to Prahastha who was skilled in warfare for his welfare.

Characters & Entities

• Banner/standard (ketu)
• Prahasta (implied by context of surrounding verses)

FAQs

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

Dharma is aligned with auspiciousness and moral clarity; when one fights for an unrighteous cause, even symbols of honor (the banner) become marked by inauspicious signs.

What is the narrative situation?

As Prahasta advances, a vulture perches on his standard facing south—an omen traditionally associated with death and defeat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and self-correction are implied: a warrior should reassess his cause when clear signs indicate moral and strategic peril.