Shloka 38

कुमाराभिषेकप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Kumāra (Skanda) Investiture at Sarasvatī

Devanagari script

एवं स शिरसा तेन चोटद्यमान: पुन: पुनः:

Transliteration

evaṁ sa śirasā tena coṭadyamānaḥ punaḥ punaḥ

Translation

Thus he was struck again and again upon the head by him, enduring repeated blows—an image of relentless violence that underscores how, in the frenzy of battle, compassion and restraint are eclipsed by the drive to overpower the fallen or weakened.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तेन: by him/it; with that
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• चोटद्यमानः: being struck/beaten
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चोट् (चोटयति)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, शानच् (present passive participle; -द्यमान), Passive

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• पुनः: again (repeatedly)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights the dehumanizing momentum of war: repeated blows symbolize how anger and victory-seeking can override restraint, inviting reflection on dharma as self-control even amid conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a combat scene in which one person is being struck on the head repeatedly by another, emphasizing the intensity and brutality of the encounter.