Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 98, Shloka 3

महोदरवधः

The Slaying of Mahodara

Devanagari script

प्रक्षीणंतुबलंदृष्टवावध्यमानंवलीमुखैः ।बभूवास्यव्यथायुद्धेप्रेक्ष्यदैवविपर्ययम् ।।6.98.3।।

Transliteration

prakṣīṇaṃ tu balaṃ dṛṣṭvā vadhyamānaṃ valīmukhaiḥ |

babhūvāsya vyathā yuddhe prekṣya daivaviparyayam ||6.98.3||

Translation

Melihat bala tentaranya sangat menyusut dan dibantai oleh para prajurit kera, ia diliputi pedih di tengah pertempuran, menyaksikan putaran nasib yang berbalik oleh kehendak takdir.

Word by Word

• प्रक्षीणम्: greatly diminished
• प्रक्षीणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√kṣi (क्षि धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• बलम्: the army
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (बल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्यय

• वध्यमानम्: being slain
• वध्यमानम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vadh (वध् धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• वलीमुखैः: by the monkey-warriors
• वलीमुखैः: Karaṇa/Kartṛ (करण/कर्ता-समूह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: valīmukha (वलीमुख प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया विभक्ति (instr./करण), बहुवचन (pl.)

• बभूव: arose, occurred
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• अस्य: of him, his
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (gen.), एकवचन (sg.)

• व्यथा: distress, agony
• व्यथा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyathā (व्यथा प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

• युद्धे: in the battle
• युद्धे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (युद्ध प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (loc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• प्रेक्ष्य: having observed
• प्रेक्ष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-√īkṣ (ईक्ष् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप् (absolutive); अव्यय

• दैवविपर्ययम्: reversal of fate
• दैवविपर्ययम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daiva + viparyaya (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (दैवस्य विपर्ययः); पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

Context

Both being scourge of their enemies, both heroes wrestling were exhausted with fighting. Then the Rakshasa picked up a sword lying not far from there along with a shield.

Characters & Entities

• Vānara (monkey warriors)
• Rākṣasa army

FAQs

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

The verse underscores accountability in war: when adharma-driven aggression meets righteous resistance, one must face the consequences (karma) and the collapse of unjust power.

What is the narrative situation?

The battle turns against the Rākṣasas as the Vānara forces cut them down, and the opposing side witnesses its strength rapidly diminishing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness and collective discipline of the Vānara warriors—acting effectively for a just cause despite the chaos of war.