Shloka 18

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

सर्वौषधीभिर्गन्धैश्चसमालभ्यमहाबलाः ।निर्जग्मुर्नैरृतश्रेष्ठाषडेतेयुद्धकाङ्क्षिणः ।।।।

Transliteration

sarvauṣadhībhir gandhaiś ca samālabhya mahābalāḥ | nirjagmur nairṛtaśreṣṭhāḥ ṣaḍ ete yuddhakāṅkṣiṇaḥ || 6.69.18 ||

Translation

守護の薬草と香を身に塗り、力強き六人の羅刹の首領たちは、戦いを望んで進み出た。

Word by Word

• सर्वौषधीभिः: with all herbs
• सर्वौषधीभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + औषधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वाः औषध्यः)

• गन्धैः: with fragrances
• गन्धैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• समालभ्य: having anointed
• समालभ्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+√लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having anointed/touched’

• महाबलाः: mighty
• महाबलाः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (महद् बलम्)

• निर्जग्मुः: went out
• निर्जग्मुः: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्+√गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• नैरृतश्रेष्ठाः: best of the Rakshasas
• नैरृतश्रेष्ठाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition to ‘एते’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैरृत + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नैरृतानां श्रेष्ठाः)

• षट्: six
• षट्: विशेषण (Numeral modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनार्थे; ‘six’ qualifying ‘एते’

• एते: these
• एते: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः: desiring battle
• युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्ध + काङ्क्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (युद्धं काङ्क्षन्ति)

Context

The six leaders endowed with great strength, anointing themselves with fragrance, which can ward off injury went to fight.

FAQs

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

Ritual/technical preparations for victory cannot replace moral legitimacy; dharma emphasizes right cause and truth over mere protective measures.

What is the narrative situation?

A group of six leading rākṣasas performs protective anointing and proceeds to the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Determination and preparedness for combat—paired with the epic’s broader critique that preparedness must serve dharma to be truly commendable.