Shloka 18

युद्धकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Rāvaṇa’s Assault on Nīla and Lakṣmaṇa; Hanumān Bears Rāma

Devanagari script

योऽसौहयंकाञ्चनचित्रभाण्डमारुह्यसन्ध्याभ्रगिरिप्रकाशम् ।प्रासंसमुद्यम्यमरीचिनद्धंपिशाचएषोऽशनितुल्यवेगः ।।6.59.18।।

Transliteration

yo ’sau hayaṃ kāñcana-citra-bhāṇḍam āruhya sandhyābhra-giri-prakāśam |

prāsaṃ samudyamya marīci-naddhaṃ piśāca eṣo ’śani-tulya-vegaḥ ||6.59.18||

Translation

അവിടെ സ്വർണ്ണാഭരണങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിച്ച കുതിരമേറി, സന്ധ്യാമേഘങ്ങൾ മൂടിയ പർവ്വതംപോലെ ദീപ്തനായവൻ; കിരണങ്ങൾ പടരുന്ന കുന്തം ഉയർത്തി നിൽക്കുന്നു—അവൻ പിശാചൻ, ഇടിമിന്നൽപോലെ വേഗമുള്ളവൻ.

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• asau: that (yonder)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hayam: horse
• hayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kāñcana-citra-bhāṇḍam: with golden, ornate trappings
• kāñcana-citra-bhāṇḍam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana + citra + bhāṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (काञ्चनं च चित्रं च भाण्डम्) विशेषणम् (हयम्/आरोहणम्)

• āruhya: having mounted
• āruhya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√ruh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having mounted’

• sandhyā-abhra-giri-prakāśam: shining like a mountain with twilight clouds
• sandhyā-abhra-giri-prakāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sandhyā + abhra + giri + prakāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (सन्ध्याभ्रगिरिवत् प्रकाशः) विशेषणम् (हयम्/आरोहणम्)

• prāsam: spear
• prāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• samudyamya: having lifted
• samudyamya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ud-√yam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having raised’

• marīci-naddham: bound/covered with rays (radiant)
• marīci-naddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: marīci + naddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तत्पुरुषः (मरीचिभिः नद्धम्) विशेषणम् (प्रासम्)

• piśācaḥ: Pisacha
• piśācaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piśāca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• aśani-tulya-vegaḥ: of speed like a thunderbolt
• aśani-tulya-vegaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśani + tulya + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (अशनितुल्यो वेगः यस्य)

Context

"He who is mounted on horses decorated with gold shining, like a mountain crowned with cloud, radiant as the Sun holding the shining yokes coming at high speed is by name Pisacha."

Characters & Entities

• Piśāca

FAQs

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

The verse reinforces that dazzling appearance and speed are morally neutral; dharma depends on the justness of one’s cause and actions.

What is the narrative situation?

A warrior named Piśāca is introduced, arriving swiftly on horseback with a radiant spear.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Swiftness and martial readiness are emphasized.