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Shloka 30

Indra Slays Namuci—The Limits of Power and the Triumph of Divine Strategy

अश्मसारमयं शूलं घण्टावद्धेमभूषणम् । प्रगृह्याभ्यद्रवत् क्रुद्धो हतोऽसीति वितर्जयन् । प्राहिणोद् देवराजाय निनदन् मृगराडिव ॥ ३० ॥

aśmasāramayaṁ śūlaṁ ghaṇṭāvad dhema-bhūṣaṇam pragṛhyābhyadravat kruddho hato ’sīti vitarjayan prāhiṇod deva-rājāya ninadan mṛga-rāḍ iva

കോപിഷ്ഠനായി സിംഹത്തെപ്പോലെ ഗർജ്ജിച്ചുകൊണ്ട്, അസുരനായ നമുചി മണிகள் കെട്ടിയതും സ്വർണ്ണാഭരണങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിച്ചതുമായ ഒരു ഇരുമ്പ് കുന്തം എടുത്തു. 'ഇപ്പോൾ നീ മരിച്ചു!' എന്ന് അവൻ ഉറക്കെ വിളിച്ചുപറഞ്ഞു. അങ്ങനെ ഇന്ദ്രനെ കൊല്ലാൻ മുന്നിൽ വന്ന്, നമുചി തന്റെ ആയുധം പ്രയോഗിച്ചു.

aśma-sāra-mayammade of adamant/stone-essence
aśma-sāra-mayam:
Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootaśman (प्रातिपदिक) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष ‘aśma-sārasya mayam’ = ‘made of stone-essence/adamant’ ; agrees with śūlam
śūlama spear/trident
śūlam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśūla (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular
ghaṇṭā-vatbell-like/with a bell
ghaṇṭā-vat:
Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootghaṇṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (प्रत्यय)
FormIndeclinable-like adjectival form with -वत्; here used as neuter accusative singular agreeing with śūlam; ‘having/like a bell’
hema-bhūṣaṇamadorned with gold ornaments
hema-bhūṣaṇam:
Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roothema (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘hemasya bhūṣaṇam’ used adjectivally; agrees with śūlam
pragṛhyahaving seized
pragṛhya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-grah (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त)
abhyadravatrushed toward
abhyadravat:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootabhi-dru (धातु)
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada
kruddhaḥenraged
kruddhaḥ:
Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkrudh (धातु)
FormPast participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; agrees with (Namuci) implied subject
hataḥslain
hataḥ:
Sambandha (उक्तिविषय)
TypeAdjective
Roothan (धातु)
FormPast passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; used predicatively in direct speech
asiyou are
asi:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootas (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada
itithus
iti:
Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
FormQuotative particle (उक्तिसूचक निपात)
vitarjayantaunting
vitarjayan:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Roottarj (धातु)
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; with prefix vi-; ‘threatening/taunting’
prāhiṇothe hurled/sent forth
prāhiṇot:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-hi (धातु)
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada; final -t due to sandhi before deva-
deva-rājāyato the king of the gods (Indra)
deva-rājāya:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootdeva (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘devānāṁ rājā’
ninadanroaring
ninadan:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootnad (धातु)
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; with prefix ni-; ‘roaring’
mṛga-rāṭa lion
mṛga-rāṭ:
Upamāna (उपमान)
TypeNoun
Rootmṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + rāṭ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुष ‘mṛgāṇāṁ rāṭ’ = ‘lion’
ivalike
iva:
Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiva (अव्यय)
FormComparative particle (उपमावाचक अव्यय)
I
Indra
B
Bali Mahārāja

FAQs

This verse depicts a fierce battlefield moment where an enraged warrior seizes a bell-adorned golden trident and hurls it at Indra, the king of the demigods, roaring like a lion.

Because Indra is the ruler and chief of the devas (demigods), the verse identifies him by his role—'devarāja,' the king of the gods—showing the trident was aimed at the leader of the heavenly hosts.

It highlights how anger amplifies conflict and aggression; a devotee learns to restrain rage and act with steadiness, seeking divine guidance rather than being driven by provocation.