Shloka 9

अक्षवधः (The Slaying of Prince Aksha)

Sundarakāṇḍa Sarga 47

Devanagari script

स तस्य वेगं च कपेर्महात्मनः पराक्रमं चारिषु पार्थिवात्मजः।विचारयन्स्वं च बलं महाबलो हिमक्षये सूर्य इवाभिवर्धते।।5.47.9।।

Transliteration

sa tasya vegaṃ ca kaper mahātmanaḥ parākramaṃ cāriṣu pārthivātmajaḥ |

vicārayan svaṃ ca balaṃ mahābalo himakṣaye sūrya ivābhivardhate ||5.47.9||

Translation

その力強い王子は、敵に対するその気高き猿の速さと武勇を量り、自らの力と比較して、冬の終わりに輝きを増す太陽のように自信を深めた。

Word by Word

सःhe

तस्यof him/of that

वेगम्speed, impetus

चand

कपेःof the monkey

महात्मनःof the great-souled

पराक्रमम्prowess, valor

चand

अरिषुamong/against the enemies

पार्थिवात्मजःthe king’s son, prince

विचारयन्considering, judging

स्वम्his own

चand

बलम्strength

महाबलःmighty, very strong

हिमक्षयेat the end of winter (when snow melts)

सूर्यःthe sun

इवlike, as

अभिवर्धतेgrows, increases, swells up (in spirit)

Context

Aksha, the mighty prince judging the speed and prowess of the monkey with his own in confronting enemies and the strength of the monkey, began to swell up in spirit like the glow of the Sun at the end of winter.

Characters & Entities

Akṣa

Hanumān

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

A cautionary Dharma note: self-assessment and confidence are necessary, but when detached from truth (satya) and justice, confidence can become pride that leads to ruin.

What is the narrative situation?

Before engaging, Akṣa evaluates Hanumān’s capabilities and, comparing them with his own, becomes increasingly bold.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Akṣa’s martial confidence and readiness—though the narrative foreshadows that confidence alone cannot overcome Hanumān’s divinely supported mission.