Shloka 10

The Slaying of Vṛtrāsura

Devanagari script

स निपत्य महीपृष्ठे लाघवात्स्वरथं ययौ । रथस्थस्तस्य देवस्य शक्त्या चैरावणं दृढम्

Transliteration

sa nipatya mahīpṛṣṭhe lāghavātsvarathaṃ yayau | rathasthastasya devasya śaktyā cairāvaṇaṃ dṛḍham

Translation

ಅವನು ಭೂಮಿಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಬಿದ್ದರೂ ಚುರುಕಿನಿಂದ ತನ್ನ ರಥವನ್ನು ಸೇರಿಕೊಂಡನು. ಬಳಿಕ ರಥಸ್ಥನಾಗಿ ದೇವಶಕ್ತಿಯ ಬಲದಿಂದ ಶೂಲದಿಂದ ಐರಾವತವನ್ನು ದೃಢವಾಗಿ ಹೊಡೆದನು.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• निपत्य: having fallen
• निपत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया; ‘having fallen down’

• महीपृष्ठे: on the earth’s surface
• महीपृष्ठे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘मही-स्य पृष्ठम्’ (surface of the earth)

• लाघवात्: due to lightness/swiftness
• लाघवात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

• स्वरथम्: his own chariot
• स्वरथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘स्वः रथः’ = own chariot

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रथस्थः: standing on the chariot
• रथस्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः ‘रथे स्थितः’ (standing on the chariot)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• शक्त्या: with a spear/weapon (śakti)
• शक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

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

• ऐरावणम्: Airāvaṇa (the elephant)
• ऐरावणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐरावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेष्य (object)

• दृढम्: firm/strong
• दृढम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of ‘ऐरावणम्’

Speaker

Narrator (contextual epic narration; specific dialogue-speaker not identifiable from this single verse alone)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: सः (स + विसर्ग); लाघवात् + स्वरथम् → लाघवात्स्वरथम्; रथस्थः + तस्य → रथस्थस्तस्य; शक्त्या + च → शक्त्या च; च + ऐरावणम् → चैरावणम्

Characters & Entities

• Airāvaṇa

FAQs

Who is Airāvaṇa in this verse?

Airāvaṇa is a named figure mentioned in the verse; without adjacent verses, the text here does not specify lineage or identity details beyond indicating him as the target of the spear/force.

Does śaktyā mean “with a spear” or “by power” here?

Both senses are possible: śakti commonly denotes a spear/lance in battle contexts, and also means power/energy. The presence of a chariot-war setting makes “with a spear” a strong contextual fit, while “by (divine) power” remains a valid layered reading.

What is the main action described in this shloka?

A warrior falls to the ground, swiftly returns to his chariot, and from the chariot forcefully engages Airāvaṇa using śakti (a spear/weapon or empowered force).