Shloka 26

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

महताहिशरौघेणप्रहस्तोयुद्धकोविदः ।।।।अर्दयामाससङ्क्रुद्धोवानरान् परमाहवे ।

Transliteration

mahatā hi śaraughena prahasto yuddha-kovidaḥ | ardayāmāsa saṅkruddho vānarān paramāhave ||

Translation

ആ മഹാസമരത്തിൽ യുദ്ധനിപുണനായ പ്രഹസ്തൻ ക്രോധംകൊണ്ട് ജ്വലിച്ച്, ഭാരമേറിയ അമ്പുകളുടെ പ്രളയത്തോടെ പരമാഹവത്തിൽ വാനരന്മാരെ കഠിനമായി പീഡിപ്പിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• महतā: with great
• महतā: करण-विशेषण (Instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् शरौघेण प्रति

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/indeed)

• शरौघेण: by a torrent of arrows
• शरौघेण: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः शराणाम् ओघः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• प्रहस्तः: Prahastha
• प्रहस्तः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रहस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• युद्धकोविदः: skilled in war
• युद्धकोविदः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्ध + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः युद्धे कोविदः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष); विशेषणम् प्रहस्तः प्रति

• अर्दयामास: tormented / crushed
• अर्दयामास: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्द् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: tormented)

• सङ्क्रुद्धः: enraged
• सङ्क्रुद्धः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-क्रुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् प्रहस्तः प्रति

• वानरान्: monkeys
• वानरान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• परमाहवे: in the great battle
• परमाहवे: अधिकरण (Location/occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + आहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; समासः परमः आहवः (कर्मधारय)

Context

In that major conflict, highly furious Prahastha, an expert in war tormented the Vanaras with a stream of arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Prahasta
• vānaras
• arrows (śara)

FAQs

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

Skill without righteousness can magnify harm; dharma judges not only competence but also alignment with satya and just cause.

What is the narrative situation?

Prahasta escalates the fight, using sustained archery to batter the vānaras during the major engagement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Yuddha-kauśala (martial expertise) is emphasized—though framed within the tragic destructiveness of war.