Shloka 31

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

देवान्ककस्समादायपरिघंवज्रभूषणम् ।परिगृह्यगिरिंदोर्भ्यांवपुर्विष्णोर्विडम्बयन् ।।।।

Transliteration

Devāntakaḥ samādāya parighaṃ vajrabhūṣaṇam |

parigṛhya giriṃ dorbhyāṃ vapur Viṣṇor viḍambayan ||

Translation

ദേവാന്തകൻ വജ്രസമാന കഠിനാഭരണങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിച്ച പരിഘം (ഇരുമ്പുദണ്ഡം) എടുത്തു; ഇരുകൈകളാലും അതിനെ പിടിച്ച്, പർവ്വതം ധരിക്കുന്ന വിഷ്ണുവിന്റെ രൂപം തന്നെ അനുകരിക്കുന്നവനായി തോന്നി.

Word by Word

• देवान्तकः: Devāntaka
• देवान्तकः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: देवानाम् अन्तकः (slayer of gods); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समादाय: having taken up
• समादाय: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive): समादाय (having taken up)

• परिघम्: iron bar/club
• परिघम्: कर्म (Object of samādāya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वज्रभूषणम्: adorned with adamant/diamond
• वज्रभूषणम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र-भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: वज्रेण भूषितम् (adorned with diamond/adamant); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; परिघस्य विशेषण

• परिगृह्य: having grasped
• परिगृह्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परि-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय: परिगृह्य (having grasped/held)

• गिरिम्: a mountain
• गिरिम्: कर्म (Object of parigṛhya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दोर्भ्याम्: with (his) two arms
• दोर्भ्याम्: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (दोर् f.), तृतीया, द्विवचन (Dual)

• वपुः: form/appearance
• वपुः: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (here: द्वितीया as object of viḍambayan)

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन

• विडम्बयन्: mimicking/imitating
• विडम्बयन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agentive participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-डम्ब् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle, शतृ) from वि+डम्ब्: विडम्बयत्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मुख्यक्रियासमानार्थक (describing subject)

Context

Devanthaka, holding a bar encrusted with diamonds in both hands, seemed like Vishnu in disguise with a mountain (to churn the milky ocean).

Characters & Entities

• Devāntaka
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

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

By using the word ‘viḍambayan’ (mimicking), the verse hints at a dharmic contrast: merely resembling divine power is not the same as embodying divine righteousness; form without dharma is hollow.

What is the narrative situation?

Devāntaka is introduced in battle-array, lifting a massive weapon and being described through a grand comparison to Viṣṇu.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Physical might and intimidation (bala, bhīṣaṇatā), presented through hyperbolic, divine imagery.