Shloka 60

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

हतेतस्मिंश्चमूमुख्येराक्षसास्तेनिरुद्यमाः ।रक्षःपतिगृहंगत्वाध्यानमूकत्वमास्थिताः ।।।।प्राप्ताश्शोकार्णवंतीव्रंनिस्सज्ञौइवतेऽभवन् ।

Transliteration

hate tasmiṃś camūmukhye rākṣasās te nirudyamāḥ | rakṣaḥpati-gṛhaṃ gatvā dhyāna-mūkatvam āsthitāḥ | prāptāḥ śokārṇavaṃ tīvraṃ nissaṃjñā iva te 'bhavan ||

Translation

Ketika panglima utama pasukan itu gugur, para Raksasa pun patah semangat; mereka pergi ke kediaman tuannya dan terdiam membisu dalam renungan. Dihantam samudra duka yang dahsyat, mereka seakan tak sadar diri.

Word by Word

हतेwhen slain

तस्मिन्in that (one)

चand

चमू-मुख्येin the army-commander

राक्षसाःRakshasas

तेthey

निरुद्यमाःinactive, dispirited

रक्षः-पति-गृहम्the house/palace of the lord of Rakshasas

गत्वाhaving gone

ध्यान-मूकत्वम्silence and stunned contemplation

आस्थिताःhaving assumed/entered

प्राप्ताःhaving reached

शोक-अर्णवम्an ocean of grief

तीव्रम्intense

निःसंज्ञाःsenseless

इवas if

तेthey

अभवन्became/were

Context

Commander-in-Chief killed, those Rakshasas reduced to speechlessness went to the abode of their Lord and remained without consciousness.

Characters & Entities

Rākṣasāḥ (Rakshasas)

FAQs

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

Unchecked adharma culminates in collective suffering; grief and paralysis follow when violence is pursued without righteous grounding.

What is the narrative situation?

After their commander falls, Rakshasa soldiers retreat to Rāvaṇa’s residence and sit in shocked silence, overwhelmed by sorrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights the absence of dhairya (fortitude) in a demoralized force, contrasting with the steadiness expected in dharmic struggle.