Shloka 8

औषधिपर्वताहरणम् / The Retrieval of the Herb

Bearing Mountain

Devanagari script

भिन्नलाङ्गूलहस्तोरुपादाङ्गुळशिरोधरैः ।स्रवद्भिःक्षतजंगात्रैःप्रस्रवद्भिस्ततस्ततः ।।6.74.8।।पतितैःपर्वताकारैर्वानरैरभिसङ्कुलाम् ।शस्सैश्चपतितैर्दीप्तैर्ददृशातेवसुन्धराम् ।।6.74.9।।

Transliteration

bhinnalāṅgūla-hastoru-pādāṅguli-śirodharaiḥ | sravadbhiḥ kṣatajaṃ gātraiḥ prasravadbhiḥ tatas tataḥ ||

Translation

ഇവിടെയും അവിടെയും വീണുകിടക്കുന്ന വാനരന്മാരെ അവർ കണ്ടു—ചിലരുടെ വാൽ മുറിഞ്ഞു, കൈകളും തുടകളും ഒടിഞ്ഞു, പാദങ്ങളും വിരലുകളും തകർന്നു, തലയും കഴുത്തും വരെ പ്രഹരിക്കപ്പെട്ട്; മുറിവേറ്റ ശരീരങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് രക്തം ഒഴുകി, ദേഹദ്രവങ്ങൾ പലിടത്തും ചോർന്നു പടരുകയായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

भिन्नलाङ्गूलहस्तोरुपादाङ्गुळशिरोधरैःwith bodies bearing severed tails, hands, thighs, feet, fingers, and heads

स्रवद्भिःoozing

क्षतजम्blood

गात्रैःwith bodies/limbs

प्रस्रवद्भिःflowing out profusely

ततःfrom there

ततःfrom various places

पतितैःfallen

पर्वताकारैःmountain-like in form

वानरैःby/with the monkeys

अभिसङ्कुलाम्completely crowded/filled

शस्त्रैःwith weapons

चand

पतितैःfallen

दीप्तैःshining

ददृशातेthe two saw

वसुन्धराम्the earth/ground

Context

Two of them saw the ground covered with Vanaras of mountain-like forms, who had fallen with tails cut off, some with broken thighs, broken legs and fingers, necks severed, letting off blood, discharging urine and glowing weapons lying on the ground.

Characters & Entities

Vānaras

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds the grave cost of conflict even in a dhārmic cause, urging sober awareness and compassion rather than triumphalism.

What is the narrative situation?

A battlefield scene is described: the earth is strewn with grievously wounded and fallen Vānaras.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate realism—recognizing suffering and the human (and non-human) toll inherent in war.