Shloka 356

Devanagari script

रक्षसां घोररूपाणां महत्या सेनया वृत:ः । वह तत्काल ही शूल, मुद्गर, शिलाखण्ड और वृक्ष हाथमें लिये हुए घोररूपधारी राक्षसोंकी विशाल सेनासे घिर गया

Transliteration

rakṣasāṃ ghorarūpāṇāṃ mahatyā senayā vṛtaḥ | sa tatkālaṃ hi śūla-mudgara-śilākhaṇḍa-vṛkṣa-hastaiḥ ghorarūpadhāri-rākṣasaiḥ viśālena sainyena parivṛto 'bhavat |

Translation

Sañjaya said: At that moment he found himself surrounded by a vast host of terrifying rākṣasas—grim in form and bearing in their hands spears, maces, boulders, and uprooted trees. The scene underscores how, in war, brute force and fearsome spectacle can close in suddenly, testing a warrior’s steadiness and discernment amid chaos.

Word by Word

• रक्षसाम्: of the rakshasas
• रक्षसाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• घोररूपाणाम्: of terrible-formed (ones)
• घोररूपाणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोररूप
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• महत्या: by/with a great
• महत्या: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• सेनया: army
• सेनया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle), वृ (वरणे/आवरणे)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Rākṣasas
• śūla (spear)
• mudgara (mace)
• śilākhaṇḍa (boulder/rock fragment)
• vṛkṣa (tree used as a weapon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how warfare amplifies fear and confusion through overwhelming force; the ethical test is to maintain steadiness, judgment, and duty-conscious action even when surrounded by terrifying opponents.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior being encircled by a huge contingent of fearsome rākṣasas carrying crude but devastating weapons—spears, maces, rocks, and uprooted trees—signaling an intense and dangerous turn in the battle.