Shloka 10

महोत्पात-लक्षणानि

Omens before Khara’s Assault

Devanagari script

नित्याशुभकरा युद्धे शिवा घोरनिदर्शनाः।।।।नेदुर्बलस्याभिमुखं ज्वालोद्गारिभिराननैः।

Transliteration

nityāśubhakarā yuddhe śivā ghoranidarśanāḥ |

nedur balasyābhimukhaṃ jvālōdgāribhir ānanaiḥ || 3.23.10 ||

Translation

യുദ്ധത്തിൽ നിത്യവും അശുഭം വരുത്തുന്ന, ഭീകര ശകുനങ്ങളായ കുറുനരികൾ പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെട്ടു; സൈന്യത്തിന്റെ നേരെ നിന്നു അവർ കുരച്ചു, ജ്വാല ഉഗിർക്കുന്ന വായുകളുള്ളവരെന്നപോലെ.

Word by Word

• नित्याशुभकराः: always inauspicious-causing
• नित्याशुभकराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अशुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नित्यं अशुभं कुर्वन्ति), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; शिवाः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• शिवाः: jackals
• शिवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• घोरनिदर्शनाः: having dreadful omens
• घोरनिदर्शनाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + निदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (घोरं निदर्शनं येषाम्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; शिवाः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• नेदुः: cried out
• नेदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• बलस्य: of the army
• बलस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अभिमुखम्: towards (it)
• अभिमुखम्: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि (उपसर्ग) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘towards/facing’ (accusative-form used adverbially)

• ज्वालोद्गारिभिः: with flame-emitting
• ज्वालोद्गारिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्गारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; from √गॄ/गॢ? ‘to emit’ as udgāra)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ज्वालाम् उद्गिरन्ति), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; आननैः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आननैः: faces/mouths
• आननैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Context

Bad omens that always bring inauspiciousness were a dreadful evidence of what is going to happen. Jackals howled, facing Khara's army with their mouths emitting fire.

Characters & Entities

• Khara’s army

FAQs

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

Dharma involves heeding admonitions—internal (conscience) and external (signs)—before committing violence; ignoring warnings deepens culpability.

What is the narrative situation?

As the rākṣasa host advances, jackals howl directly toward them, intensifying the sequence of ominous signs.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-restraint (dama) and prudence: a righteous leader would pause and reconsider rather than charge ahead.