Shloka 21

त्रिशिरा–देवान्तक–महोदर–मत्त

महापार्श्व) वधः | Slaying of Trisira, Devantaka, Mahodara, and Matta (Mahaparsva

Devanagari script

तश्चिक्षेपशैलाग्रंनीलस्त्रिशिरसेतदा ।तद्रावणसुतोधीमाबनिभेदनिशितैश्शरैः ।।।।

Transliteration

taś cikṣepa śailāgraṃ nīlas triśirase tadā |

tad rāvaṇasuto dhīmān bibhēda niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ നീലൻ ത്രിശിരസിന്മേൽ ഒരു പർവ്വതശിഖരം എറിഞ്ഞു; എന്നാൽ രാവണപുത്രനായ ആ ധീമാൻ മൂർച്ചയുള്ള അമ്പുകളാൽ അതിനെ തകർത്തു.

Word by Word

• taḥ: then
• taḥ: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (तत्/ततः-आदि), अत्र 'तत्' = then/thereupon (contextual)

• cikṣepa: threw
• cikṣepa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣip (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śailāgram: mountain-peak
• śailāgram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila-agra (प्रातिपदिक; शैल + अग्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शैलस्य अग्रं)

• nīlaḥ: Nila
• nīlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• triśirase: at/against Trisira
• triśirase: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: triśiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (सम्प्रदान)

• tadā: at that time
• tadā: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• tat: that (mountain-peak)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; (पूर्वोक्तं शैलाग्रम्)

• rāvaṇasutaḥ: Ravana's son
• rāvaṇasutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa-suta (प्रातिपदिक; रावण + सुत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रावणस्य सुतः)

• dhīmān: wise
• dhīmān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (rāvaṇasutaḥ)

• bibheda: shattered / pierced
• bibheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• niśitaiḥ: sharp
• niśitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (śaraiḥ)

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Context

Thereafter Neela hit Trisira with the peak of the mountain and Ravana's son broke the mountain into pieces with arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Nīla
• Triśiras
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

Power must be coupled with discernment: Nīla’s strength meets the enemy’s skill. The Ramayana repeatedly implies that true dharma is not mere force but force aligned with right intent and disciplined intelligence.

What is the narrative situation?

Nīla attacks Triśiras with a mountain-peak; Triśiras counters by breaking it apart with arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pratibhā and kauśala (tactical skill): Triśiras’ precise archery counters a massive projectile.