Valmiki Ramayana 6.57.41 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 41

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

निर्याणश्रीश्चयाऽस्यासीद्भास्वरावसुदुर्लभाः ।साननाशमुहूर्तेनसमेचस्खलिताहयाः ।।।।

Transliteration

niryāṇaśrīś ca yā ’syāsīd bhāsvārā vasu-durlabhā | sā nanāśa muhūrtena same ca skhalitā hayāḥ ||

Translation

അവന്റെ പ്രയാണത്തോടൊപ്പം ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന ദീപ്തവും ദുർലഭവുമായ യുദ്ധശ്രീ ഒരു നിമിഷത്തിൽ അപ്രത്യക്ഷമായി; സമതലഭൂമിയിലും കുതിരകൾ ഇടറിപ്പോയി—ഭാഗ്യം തന്നെ പിന്മാറിയതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• prahastam: Prahastha
• prahastam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tu: but, then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• abhiniryāntam: coming forth/advancing
• abhiniryāntam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-nir-√yā (कृदन्त, धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying prahastam

• prakhyāta-bala-pauruṣam: renowned for strength and valour
• prakhyāta-bala-pauruṣam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prakhyāta (कृदन्त, √khyā धातु) + bala (प्रातिपदिक) + pauruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; multi-member तत्पुरुष: ‘renowned’ + ‘strength’ + ‘valour’

• yudhi: in battle
• yudhi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yudh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (idiom: ‘in battle’)

• nānā-praharaṇā: armed with various weapons
• nānā-praharaṇā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + praharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying kapi-senā; karmadhāraya: ‘various’ + ‘weapons’

• kapi-senā: the monkey army
• kapi-senā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक) + senā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘monkey’ + ‘army’

• abhyavartata: advanced against, confronted
• abhyavartata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Context

The splendour of Prahastha which is difficult to destroy, disappeared at that moment and the horses stumbled on even ground.

Characters & Entities

• Prahasta (implied)
• Horses (haya)

FAQs

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

True ‘śrī’ (auspicious fortune) is portrayed as dharma-dependent: when one advances under adharma, prosperity and stability can vanish suddenly.

What is the narrative situation?

As Prahasta proceeds, a sequence of inauspicious signs culminates in the loss of his ‘niryāṇaśrī’ and the stumbling of his horses on flat ground.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Right alignment (satya-dharma) is implied as the sustaining virtue behind success; without it, even strength and preparation become unreliable.