Shloka 30

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

निनदन्तस्स्वरान्घोरान्राक्षसाजग्मुरग्रतः ।।।।भीमरूपामहाकायाःप्रहस्तस्यपुरस्सराः ।

Transliteration

ninadantaḥ svarān ghorān rākṣasā jagmur agrataḥ |

bhīma-rūpā mahā-kāyāḥ prahastasya purassarāḥ ||6.57.30||

Translation

ഭീകരരൂപവും മഹാകായത്വവും ഉള്ള രാക്ഷസർ ഘോരനാദം മുഴക്കി മുന്നോട്ട് നീങ്ങി; പ്രഹസ്തന്റെ അഗ്രസേനയായി അവർ മുൻപിൽ നടന്നു.

Word by Word

• निनदन्तः: making a din / roaring
• निनदन्तः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निनद् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि; राक्षसाः इति कर्तृविशेषणम्

• स्वरान्: sounds/voices
• स्वरान्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• घोरान्: dreadful
• घोरान्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् स्वरान् प्रति

• राक्षसाः: Rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: देशाधिकरण (place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• भीमरूपाः: of terrifying form
• भीमरूपाः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम-रूप (प्रातिपदिक; भीमः+रूपम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् राक्षसाः प्रति

• महाकायाः: huge-bodied
• महाकायाः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-काय (प्रातिपदिक; महत्+काय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् राक्षसाः प्रति

• प्रहस्तस्य: of Prahasta
• प्रहस्तस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रहस्त (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• पुरस्सराः: vanguards / those going ahead
• पुरस्सराः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरः-सर (प्रातिपदिक; पुरः + सर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव: 'पुरः सरन्ति' (those who go in front)

Context

Rakshasas of fierce appearance, of huge body size, making dreadful sounds went marching ahead of Prahastha.

Characters & Entities

• Prahastha

FAQs

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

The verse shows intimidation as a tactic—loud cries and fearsome display. Dharmically, it contrasts external terror with inner virtue: true strength in the Ramayana is ultimately aligned with satya and self-restraint, not merely with frightening spectacle.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahastha’s forces advance with a terrifying front line, announcing their approach through loud, dreadful roars.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial assertiveness and battlefield intimidation (a strategic trait rather than a moral virtue).