Shloka 16

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

नहिमेजीवितंरक्ष्यंपुत्रदारधनानिच ।।।।त्वंपश्यमांजुहूषन्तंत्वदर्थेजीवितंयुधि ।

Transliteration

na hi me jīvitaṃ rakṣyaṃ putradāra-dhanāni ca | tvaṃ paśya māṃ juhūṣantaṃ tvadarthe jīvitaṃ yudhi || 6.57.16 ||

Translation

ನನಗೆ ಜೀವವನ್ನು ಕಾಪಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕೆಂಬ ಆಸೆಯಿಲ್ಲ; ಪುತ್ರ-ದಾರರು, ಧನವೂ ಅಲ್ಲ. ನೀನು ನೋಡು—ನಿನ್ನ ನಿಮಿತ್ತ ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ಜೀವವನ್ನೇ ಹೋಮಿಸಲು ಸಿದ್ಧನಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ: "indeed"

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• रक्ष्यम्: to be spared
• रक्ष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन: "to be protected/spared"

• पुत्रदारधनानि: sons, wife, and wealth
• पुत्रदारधनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र-दारा-धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (Plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: पुत्राः च दाराः च धनानि च

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

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पश्य: see
• पश्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• जुहूषन्तम्: ready to offer up
• जुहूषन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle) परस्मैपद: जुहूषत्; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन: "wishing to offer/sacrifice"

• त्वदर्थे: for your sake
• त्वदर्थे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वदर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine) / नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter) as sense; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: तव अर्थः

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

"I do not need to protect my life, sons, wives and wealth also. I am willing to give up my life also in war for you. You will see."

Characters & Entities

• Prahasta
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

It highlights the warrior ideal of self-sacrifice; ethically, the Ramayana also invites reflection on whether such sacrifice serves dharma or merely sustains an adharmic cause.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahasta declares unwavering readiness to die in war for Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and self-offering (tyāga), expressed as loyalty to one’s lord.