Shloka 25

Dvaītavana: Brahmaghoṣa, Rṣi-saṅgha, and Baka Dālbhyā’s Upadeśa to Yudhiṣṭhira

Devanagari script

शरावमर्दे शीघ्रत्वात्‌ कालान्तकयमोपम: । यस्य शस्त्रप्रतापेन प्रणता: सर्वपार्थिवा:

Transliteration

śarāvamarde śīghratvāt kālāntakayama-upamaḥ | yasya śastra-pratāpena praṇatāḥ sarva-pārthivāḥ ||

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ശത്രുസൈന്യത്തെ തകർക്കുന്നതിൽ അവൻ വേഗത്തിൽ കാലൻ, അന്തകൻ, യമൻ എന്നിവരെപ്പോലെ; അവന്റെ ആയുധപ്രതാപം മൂലം ഭൂമിയിലെ രാജാക്കന്മാർ എല്ലാവരും നമിച്ചു.

Word by Word

शरावमर्देin (the act of) crushing/breaking pots

शीघ्रत्वात्because of swiftness

कालान्तकयमोपमःlike Yama, the ender at the end of time

यस्यwhose

शस्त्रप्रतापेनby the might of (his) weapons

प्रणताःbowed down, submissive

सर्वपार्थिवाःall kings

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yama

kings (pārthivāḥ)

weapons (śastra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how extraordinary speed and disciplined martial power can compel even great rulers to submit; ethically, it reflects the epic’s recognition that political order among kings often rests on demonstrated strength, though such strength is framed as awe-inspiring and fearsome like Yama.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing a formidable figure whose battlefield swiftness and weapon-power are so overwhelming that other kings become submissive, bowing in acknowledgment of his dominance.