Shloka 34

महोदरवधः

The Slaying of Mahodara

Devanagari script

निकृत्तशिरसस्तस्यपतितस्यमहीतले ।।6.98.34।।तद्बलंराक्षसेन्द्रस्यदृष्टवातत्र न तिष्टते ।

Transliteration

nikṛttaśirasaḥ tasya patitasya mahītale |

tad balaṃ rākṣasendrasya dṛṣṭvā tatra na tiṣṭhate ||6.98.34||

Translation

അവന്റെ തല വെട്ടിമാറ്റപ്പെട്ട് ഭൂമിയിൽ വീണപ്പോൾ, അത് കണ്ട രാക്ഷസേന്ദ്രന്റെ സൈന്യം അവിടെ നിലകൊള്ളാതെ പിന്മാറി.

Word by Word

• निकृत्तशिरसः: of him whose head was severed
• निकृत्तशिरसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni + kṛt (धातु) + kta (कृत्) + śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: निकृत्तं शिरः यस्य (whose head was cut off)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• पतितस्य: fallen
• पतितस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pat (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तस्य इति विशेषण

• महीतले: on the ground
• महीतले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī-tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मह्याः तलम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बलम् इति विशेषण

• बलम्: army; force
• बलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राक्षसेन्द्रस्य: of the lord of Rakshasas
• राक्षसेन्द्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: राक्षसानाम् इन्द्रः

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Hetu/पूर्वक्रिया (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): having seen

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (there)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• तिष्ठते: stands; remains
• तिष्ठते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Mahodara's head severed and fell on the ground. Seeing that Rakshasa king's army ran from there.

Characters & Entities

• Mahodara
• Rākṣasa army
• Rākṣasendra (Rāvaṇa, implied as king of Rākṣasas)

FAQs

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

Adharma weakens collective courage; when unjust leadership loses its champions, fear spreads—illustrating that moral grounding sustains resilience.

What is the narrative situation?

Mahodara’s death shatters the Rākṣasa side’s morale, causing the forces of the Rākṣasa king to falter and withdraw.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is steadfastness on the righteous side: decisive victories can protect the community by breaking oppressive momentum.