Shloka 2

Adhiratha-Rādhā Discover the Casket; Vasuṣeṇa (Karṇa) is Adopted and Formed

Devanagari script

ततो हते दशग्रीवे देवा: सर्षिपुरोगमा: । आशीर्भिर्जययुक्ताभिरानर्चुस्तं महाभुजम्‌,दशाननके मारे जानेपर देवता तथा महर्षिगण जययुक्त आशीर्वाद देते हुए उन महाबाहुकी पूजा एवं प्रशंसा करने लगे

Transliteration

tato hate daśagrīve devāḥ sarṣipurogamāḥ | āśīrbhir jayayuktābhir ānarcuḥ taṃ mahābhujam ||

Translation

When Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa) had been slain, the gods—preceded by the ṛṣis—honoured that mighty-armed hero with blessings charged with victory. In this moment the epic underscores a moral order: the defeat of oppressive power is not merely a military event but a restoration of dharma, acknowledged by divine and sage-like authorities through praise and benediction.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

हतेwhen (he) was slain

दशग्रीवेin/when the ten-necked one (Rāvaṇa)

देवाःthe gods

सर्षि-पुरोगमाःhaving the ṛṣis in front / led by sages

आशीर्भिःwith blessings

जययुक्ताभिःaccompanied by victory (i.e., victory-wishing)

आनर्चुःthey worshipped/praised

तम्him

महाभुजम्the mighty-armed one

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa)

Devas (gods)

Ṛ

Ṛṣis (sages)

Mahābhuja (the mighty-armed hero)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents victory as ethically meaningful when it aligns with dharma: the fall of a tyrannical force is validated by gods and sages, indicating that righteous action restores order and merits honour and blessings.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa) is killed, the gods, with sages at their head, approach and honour the mighty-armed hero, offering victory-laden blessings and praise.