Shloka 24

Devanagari script

ततो5सुरा: सगन्धर्वा यक्षराक्षसपन्नगा: | उत्पेतुर्नादमतुलमुत्सूजन्तो रणार्थिन:,तत्पश्चात्‌ असुर, गन्धर्व, यक्ष, राक्षस और नाग युद्धके लिये उत्सुक हो अनुपम गर्जना करते हुए वहाँ दौड़े आये

Transliteration

tato 'surāḥ sa-gandharvā yakṣa-rākṣasa-pannagāḥ | utpetur nādam atulam utsṛjanto raṇārthinaḥ ||

Translation

Then the Asuras—along with the Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and serpent-beings—leapt forward, eager for battle, releasing an incomparable roar. The scene signals the swelling of collective martial passion, where many non-human powers converge, driven by the impulse to fight rather than by deliberation on dharma.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

असुराःAsuras

सगन्धर्वाःtogether with Gandharvas

यक्षराक्षसपन्नगाःYakshas, Rakshasas, and serpents (Nāgas)

उत्पेतुःleapt up / sprang forth

नादम्roar, shout

अतुलम्incomparable

उत्सृजन्तःuttering, sending forth

रणार्थिनःdesirous of battle

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Asuras

Gandharvas

Yakṣas

Rākṣasas

Pannagas (Nāgas/serpent-beings)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how collective excitement for conflict can rapidly gather and intensify—many forces rush in, defined by their appetite for battle. Ethically, it cautions that mere eagerness for war (raṇārthitā) is a powerful driver that can eclipse discernment about right conduct (dharma).

What is happening in the narrative?

A host of non-human groups—Asuras, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and Nāgas—surge forward toward battle, shouting a tremendous war-cry, indicating that the confrontation is about to begin or intensify.