Shloka 64

Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve

Gandharva Encounter

Devanagari script

पर्वताक्ष शतघ्न्यक्ष प्रासासिपरिघा गदा: । निपतद्धिश्व तैघेरिदेवानीकं महायुधै:

Transliteration

parvatākṣa-śataghnīyakṣa-prāsāsi-parighā gadāḥ | nipatad dhiśva tais tīvrair devānīkaṁ mahāyudhaiḥ ||

Translation

マールカンデーヤは語った。「そのとき、山の岩塊のごとき投擲物、重き棍棒、槍、剣、鉄の棒、そしてガダー（鉄槌）といった強大な武器によって、神々の軍勢は四方から打ち据えられた。猛き武器が雨のように降り注いだのである。この光景は、正しき軍であっても圧倒的な力により試されうること、そして戦の混沌のただ中では勇気と不動の心が求められることを示している。」

Word by Word

पर्वताःmountains

अक्षाःaxles (or dice/eyes; here likely axles as missiles)

शतघ्न्यःsataghnī weapons (missiles/stone-balls)

प्रासाःspears

असयःswords

परिघाःiron clubs/bars

गदाःmaces

निपतत्falling down

दिशःthe directions

चand

तैःby those

घोरैःterrible

देवानीकम्the army/host of the gods

महायुधैःwith great weapons

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

devānīka (host of the gods)

weapons: śataghnī, prāsa, asi, parigha, gadā, parvatākṣa

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 underscores that in war—even when one’s cause is aligned with dharma—one must endure severe trials. Ethical steadiness is tested not by comfort but by the pressure of violent opposition, where courage and discipline become moral necessities.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes a fierce assault in which powerful weapons—spears, swords, maces, iron bars, and heavy missiles—rain down upon the army of the gods, striking them from all directions.