Shloka 37

कुमाराभिषेकप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Kumāra (Skanda) Investiture at Sarasvatī

Devanagari script

तच्छिरो नमुचेश्छिन्नं पृष्ठठ: शक्रमन्वियात्‌

Transliteration

tacchiro namuceś chinnaṃ pṛṣṭhataḥ śakram anviyāt

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。ナムチの首は斬り落とされるや、背後からシャクラを追いかけた――暴力ののちに残る不吉な余韻であり、勝利の一撃でさえ、道義と心に消えぬ影を引きずりうることを示していた。

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: tad
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• namuceḥ: of Namuci
• namuceḥ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: namuci
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• chinnam: cut off, severed
• chinnam: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: chid
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular, past passive participle (kta)

• pṛṣṭhataḥ: from behind
• pṛṣṭhataḥ: Apadana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛṣṭha
• Form: ablatival adverb (tas)

• śakram: Śakra (Indra)
• śakram: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• anviyāt: would follow / should follow
• anviyāt: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√yā
• Form: optative (vidhi-liṅ), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Namuci
• Śakra (Indra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse suggests that violent acts can generate consequences that persist beyond the moment of apparent victory—symbolized by the severed head still pursuing the victor—inviting reflection on responsibility, retribution, and the lingering effects of harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, Namuci’s head has been cut off, yet it continues to follow Indra (Śakra) from behind, presenting a supernatural pursuit that underscores the grim, uncanny aftermath of conflict.