Shloka 19

महोदरवधः

The Slaying of Mahodara

Devanagari script

गदापरिघहस्तौतौयुधिवीरौसमीयतुः ।नर्दन्तौगोवृषप्रख्यौघनाविवसविद्युतौ ।।6.98.19।।

Transliteration

gadā-parigha-hastau tau yudhi vīrau samīyatuḥ |

nardantau go-vṛṣa-prakhyau ghanāv iva sa-vidyutau ||6.98.19||

Translation

യുദ്ധഭൂമിയിൽ ഗദയും പരിഘവും കൈയിൽ ധരിച്ച ആ രണ്ടു വീരന്മാർ പരസ്പരം നേരെ മുന്നേറി; മഹാവൃഷഭങ്ങളെപ്പോലെ ഗർജ്ജിച്ചു, മിന്നൽ തിളങ്ങുന്ന ഘനമേഘങ്ങളെപ്പോലെ ദൃശ്യമാനരായി.

Word by Word

• गदा-परिघ-हस्तौ: having a mace and an iron bar in hand
• गदा-परिघ-हस्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + परिघ (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गदा-परिघयोः हस्तौ = having mace-and-iron-bar as (their) weapons in hand)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• वीरौ: two heroes
• वीरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• समीयतुः: came together (to fight)
• समीयतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-इ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘came together/engaged’

• नर्दन्तौ: roaring
• नर्दन्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नर्द् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘तौ/वीरौ’)

• गो-वृष-प्रख्यौ: like bulls
• गो-वृष-प्रख्यौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गोवृषवत् प्रख्यौ = renowned/like bulls)

• घनौ: two clouds
• घनौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; उपमान (as compared)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• स-विद्युतौ: with lightning
• स-विद्युतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सह-विद्युत् = with lightning)

Context

The Lord of Rakshasas, Ravana, became doubly angry by the destruction of his army and fall of Virupaksha.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Mahodara
• gadā (mace)
• parigha (iron bar)

FAQs

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

Dharma in war emphasizes courage aligned with purpose: the fighters meet openly in direct combat, reflecting the kṣātra ethic of confronting an opponent without deceit.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva and Mahodara close distance and formally engage, depicted with vivid similes to mark the intensity of the duel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valor) and steadiness under danger—both are presented as formidable, meeting face-to-face rather than retreating.