Shloka 13

धूम्राक्षवधः

The Slaying of Dhumrākṣa

Devanagari script

गजेन्द्रैःपर्वताकारैःपर्वताग्रैर्वनौकसाम् ।मथितैर्वाजिभिःकीर्णंसारोहैर्वसुधातलम् ।।6.52.13।।

Transliteration

gajendraiḥ parvatākāraiḥ parvatāgrair vanaukasām |

mathitair vājibhiḥ kīrṇaṃ sārohair vasudhātalam || 6.52.13 ||

Translation

Permukaan bumi dipenuhi kuda-kuda beserta penunggangnya yang remuk, dan juga gajah-gajah agung laksana gunung, dihantam oleh para vānara yang melemparkan puncak-puncak batu bagaikan gunung.

Word by Word

• गजेन्द्रैः: by lordly elephants
• गजेन्द्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (गजानाम् इन्द्राः); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• पर्वताकारैः: mountain-shaped
• पर्वताकारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (पर्वतस्य आकारः इव); पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural)

• पर्वताग्रैः: with mountain-peaks
• पर्वताग्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (पर्वतस्य अग्राणि); नपुंसक/पुं-प्रयोगे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; here instrumental plural

• वनौकसाम्: of the forest-dwellers (vanaras)
• वनौकसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (वने ओकः यस्य/ये); षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• मथितैः: by crushed (ones)
• मथितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मथ् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त) from √मथ्; तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental, Plural)

• वाजिभिः: by horses
• वाजिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• कीर्णम्: covered / strewn
• कीर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कॄ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त) from √कॄ/कीर् ‘to scatter/cover’; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• सारोहैः: with riders
• सारोहैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + आरोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (सह आरोहैः = with riders); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• वसुधातलम्: the surface of the earth
• वसुधातलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (वसुधायाः तलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम् (Singular)

Context

By the Vanaras hurling from the mountains, the crushed elephants were like mountains and the horses with riders crushed covered the ground all over.

Characters & Entities

• vānara warriors (vanaukasaḥ)
• elephants (gajendra)
• horses (vāji)

FAQs

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

It highlights the overwhelming momentum of a just coalition: when dharma is defended collectively, even formidable instruments of oppression are brought down.

What is the narrative situation?

The verse depicts the battlefield after massive impacts—elephants, horses, and riders lie crushed as vānara forces use mountain fragments as weapons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective strength and determination—extraordinary effort directed toward restoring moral order.