Shloka 13

महोदरवधः

The Slaying of Mahodara

Devanagari script

तामापततनींसहसाशिलांदृष्टवामहोदरः ।असम्भ्रान्तस्ततोबाणैर्निर्बिभेददुरासदाम् ।।6.98.13।।

Transliteration

tām āpatantīṃ sahasā śilāṃ dṛṣṭvā mahodaraḥ |

asambhrāntas tato bāṇair nirbibheda durāsadām ||6.98.13||

Translation

തന്റെ നേരെ പെട്ടെന്ന് പാഞ്ഞുവരുന്ന ആ ദുർജ്ജയ ശില കണ്ട മഹോദരൻ അചഞ്ചലനായി; ഉടൻ തന്നെ അമ്പുകളാൽ അതിനെ തുളച്ച് ചിതറിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शिलाम् इति विशेष्य

• आपतन्तीम्: coming/falling towards (him)
• आपतन्तीम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√पत् (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शिलाम् इति विशेषणम्

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: क्रिया-विशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (suddenly/at once)

• शिलाम्: rock
• शिलाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of seeing/breaking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• महोदरः: Mahodara
• महोदरः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• असम्भ्रान्तः: unperturbed
• असम्भ्रान्तः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-सम्भ्रान्त (कृदन्त; √भ्रम् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-प्रत्यय (negation)

• ततः: then
• ततः: काल/क्रम (Temporal sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (then)

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• निर्बिभेद: pierced/broke apart
• निर्बिभेद: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-√भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दुरासदाम्: hard to shatter/assail
• दुरासदाम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्-आसद (प्रातिपदिक; उपपद-समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास (दुर् + आसद = difficult to assail/break); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शिलाम् इति विशेषणम्

Context

Then seeing the formidable rock coming towards him, he was not bewildered and immediately struck and broke it with his arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Mahodara
• Sugrīva
• Bāṇa (arrows)
• Śilā (rock)

FAQs

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

Self-control under threat is a key ethical discipline; composure enables effective, measured response.

What is the narrative situation?

Mahodara counters Sugrīva’s rock-throw by breaking the rock with arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Presence of mind and martial skill—Mahodara remains unshaken.