Shloka 16

महोदरवधः

The Slaying of Mahodara

Devanagari script

शरैश्चविददारैनंशूरःपरपुरञ्जयः ।स ददर्शततःक्रुद्धःपरिघंपतितंभुवि ।।6.98.16।।

Transliteration

śaraiś ca vidadāra enaṃ śūraḥ parapurañjayaḥ |

sa dadarśa tataḥ kruddhaḥ parighaṃ patitaṃ bhuvi ||6.98.16||

Translation

ആ ശൂരൻ, ശത്രുദുർഗ്ഗവിജയിയായ വീരൻ, അമ്പുകളാൽ അവനെ കീറിത്തുറന്നു; പിന്നെ ക്രോധത്തോടെ പരിഘംപോലെയുള്ള ഗദ ഭൂമിയിൽ വീണുകിടക്കുന്നത് കണ്ടു.

Word by Word

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

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• विददार: tore/lacerated
• विददार: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√दॄ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एनम्: him/this one
• एनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शूरः: the hero
• शूरः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परपुरञ्जयः: conqueror of enemy strongholds
• परपुरञ्जयः: कर्ता (Appositional subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-पुर-ञ्जय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पराणां पुराणि जयति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शूरः इति समानाधिकरण (उपाधि)

• स: he
• स: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• क्रुद्धः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √क्रुध् (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; स इति विशेषणम्

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

• पतितम्: fallen
• पतितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √पत् (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; परिघम् इति विशेषणम्

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Context

Mahodara, a scourge of enemy forces, who lacerated Sugriva in that manner, angry, made the tree fall on the ground.

Characters & Entities

• Mahodara
• Sugrīva
• Parigha (iron bar/club)
• Bāṇa (arrows)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts skill with anger: Dharma values disciplined strength; rage can drive escalation and loss of balance.

What is the narrative situation?

Mahodara wounds Sugrīva with arrows and notices a parigha lying on the ground.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial competence (Mahodara’s arrow-work), alongside the cautionary presence of anger.