Shloka 18

महोदरवधः

The Slaying of Mahodara

Devanagari script

तस्माद्धतहयावदीरःसोऽऽवप्लुत्यमहारथात् ।गदांजग्राहसंक्रुद्धोराक्षसोऽऽथमहोदरः ।।6.98.18।।

Transliteration

tasmād dhatahayaḥ vīraḥ so'vaplutyā mahārathāt |

gadāṃ jagrāha saṃkruddho rākṣaso'tha mahodaraḥ ||6.98.18||

Translation

അശ്വങ്ങൾ നിഹതരായതിനാൽ മഹോദരൻ എന്ന രാക്ഷസവീരൻ മഹാരഥത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ചാടി ഇറങ്ങി, ക്രോധത്തോടെ ഗദ കൈക്കലാക്കി.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: from that (place/chariot)
• तस्मात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• हतहयावदीरः: whose horses were slain
• हतहयावदीरः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत-हय-अवदीर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (हताः हयाः यस्य/यत्र; अवदीरः = chariot-warrior/driver); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; स/राक्षसः इति विशेषणम्

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

• अवप्लुत्य: having jumped down
• अवप्लुत्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√प्लु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having leapt down)

• महारथात्: from the great chariot
• महारथात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-रथ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् रथः); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जग्राह: seized/took up
• जग्राह: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संक्रुद्धः: enraged
• संक्रुद्धः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√क्रुध् (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; राक्षसः/महोदरः इति विशेषणम्

• राक्षसः: the Rakshasa
• राक्षसः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: काल/क्रम (Discourse sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• महोदरः: Mahodara
• महोदरः: कर्ता (Appositional subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; राक्षसः इति समानाधिकरण

Context

Then the hero, Mahodara, his horses destroyed, jumped from the great chariot, and took hold of a mace.

Characters & Entities

• Mahodara
• Sugrīva
• Gadā (mace)
• Mahāratha (great chariot)

FAQs

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

Adversity reveals character: Dharma asks for steadiness and right intent; anger (krodha) is shown as a destabilizing force even amid bravery.

What is the narrative situation?

After losing his horses, Mahodara abandons the chariot and prepares to fight on foot with a mace.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearlessness and persistence—Mahodara continues combat despite tactical loss, though colored by rage.