Shloka 26

अक्षवधः (The Slaying of Prince Aksha)

Sundarakāṇḍa Sarga 47

Devanagari script

अबालवद्बालदिवाकरप्रभः करोत्ययं कर्म महन्महाबलः।न चास्य सर्वाहवकर्मशोभिनः प्रमापणे मे मतिरत्र जायते।।5.47.26।।

Transliteration

abāla-vad bāla-divākara-prabhaḥ karoty ayaṃ karma mahan mahā-balaḥ | na cāsya sarvāhava-karma-śobhinaḥ pramāpaṇe me matir atra jāyate ||5.47.26||

Translation

“ഇവൻ ബാലനായിട്ടും പ്രൗഢനെന്നപോലെ നൈപുണ്യത്തോടെ മഹത്തായ കര്‍മ്മങ്ങൾ ചെയ്യുന്നു; ഉദയസൂര്യനെപ്പോലെ ദീപ്തനും മഹാബലവാനും ആയി മഹാവീര്യപ്രകടനം നടത്തുന്നു. എല്ലാ യുദ്ധകലകളിലും ശോഭിക്കുന്ന ഈവനെ നശിപ്പിക്കണമെന്ന ചിന്ത എനിക്കിവിടെ ഉദിക്കുന്നില്ല.”

Word by Word

• abālavat: not like a child; not like an amateur
• abālavat: क्रियाविशेषणम् (manner adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: a- (निषेध) + bāla (बाल) + -vat (वत्-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: अव्ययम्; तद्धितान्त-रूपेण क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial, 'like/unlike a child'); -वत्-प्रत्ययान्तम्

• bāladivākaraprabhaḥ: having the radiance of the rising sun
• bāladivākaraprabhaḥ: कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (qualifier of the subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāla (बाल) + divākara (दिवाकर) + prabhā (प्रभा) → prabha (प्रभ) (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः: तत्पुरुषः (बालस्य दिवाकरस्य प्रभा इव यस्य) — विशेषणम्

• karoti: does; performs
• karoti: क्रिया (verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) (धातुः)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• ayam: this (one/hero)
• ayam: कर्ता (agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• karma: deed; feat; action
• karma: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (कर्मन्) (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• mahat: great; magnificent
• mahat: कर्म-विशेषणम् (qualifier of the object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (महत्) (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (कर्मणः)

• mahābalaḥ: very powerful; of great strength
• mahābalaḥ: कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (qualifier of the subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (महा) + bala (बल) (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः: कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् बलं यस्य/महाबलः) — विशेषणम् (अयम्)

• na: not
• na: निषेध (negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (न)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निषेध-निपातः (negation particle)

• ca: and
• ca: समुच्चय (connective)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय-निपातः (conjunction)

• asya: of him; his
• asya: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation: 'of him')
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• sarvāhavakarmaśobhinaḥ: of him who is splendid in all acts of battle
• sarvāhavakarmaśobhinaḥ: सम्बन्ध-विशेषणम् (genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्व) + āhava (आहव) + karma (कर्म) + śobhin (शोभिन्) (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः: तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषु आहवकर्मसु शोभमानः/शोभिन्) — विशेषणम् (अस्य)

• pramāpaṇe: in subduing/bringing him down; in cutting him to size
• pramāpaṇe: अधिकरण (locus/context: 'in/with regard to')
• Type: Noun
• Root: pra-√mā (मा) (धातुः) + ṇic (णिच्) → pramāpaṇa (प्रमापण) (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; भाववाचक-नाम (action-noun) 'प्रमापण' = causing to be measured down/checked

• me: my; to me
• me: सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (possessor: 'my')
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम (enclitic form)

• matiḥ: thought; inclination; intention
• matiḥ: कर्ता (agent of 'jāyate')
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (मति) (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• atra: here; in this matter
• atra: अधिकरण (contextual adverb: 'here/in this matter')
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अत्र)
• Form: अव्ययम्; देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place/context)

• jāyate: arises; is born; occurs
• jāyate: क्रिया (verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (जन्) (धातुः)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Context

'He (Aksha) is like the radiant, rising Sun with extraordinary might. He is accomplishing great deeds unlike young warriors of his age and is exhibiting a magnificent feat. He knows all means of fighting. I do not feel like cutting him to size. My mind does not allow me to kill this boy.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Akṣa (Akṣakumāra)

FAQs

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

Dharma in warfare includes moral hesitation and compassion: even amid conflict, Hanumān recognizes youth and merit, and truthfully admits his reluctance to kill a capable young prince.

What is the narrative situation?

In the midst of the duel, Hanumān inwardly evaluates Akṣa’s brilliance and considers whether killing him is necessary.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate discernment—Hanumān’s strength is tempered by ethical reflection and respect for a worthy (and young) opponent.