Shloka 5
महोदरवधः
The Slaying of Mahodara
जहिशत्रुचमूंवीरदर्शयाद्यपराक्रमम् ।भर्तृपिण्डस्यकालोऽऽयंनिर्देष्टुंसाधुयुध्यताम् ।।6.98.5।।
jahi śatrucamūṃ vīra darśayādya parākramam |
bhartṛpiṇḍasya kālo 'yaṃ nirdeṣṭuṃ sādhu yudhyatām ||6.98.5||
“വീരാ, ശത്രുസൈന്യത്തെ നശിപ്പിച്ച് ഇന്നുതന്നെ നിന്റെ പരാക്രമം കാണിക്കൂ. പ്രഭുവിൽ നിന്നു ലഭിച്ച അന്നപിണ്ഡത്തിന്റെ കടം തീർക്കേണ്ട സമയമാണിത്; അതുകൊണ്ട് നന്നായി യുദ്ധം ചെയ്തു.”
Thereafter, Suras, Siddhas, Yakshas of heaven and all beings on the land, great selves who were gazing at the battle felt highly delighted seeing the victory of the Vanara king in the forefront of the battlefield.।। itayāraṣēvālamīkīyēśarīmadarāmāyaṇēādikāvayēyudadhakāḍēaṣaṭānavatitamaḥsaragaḥ ।।This is the end of the ninety eighth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
It frames duty as repayment of support received from one’s ruler—an ideal of service and obligation. In Ramayana ethics, this is weighed against the higher dharma of serving righteousness, not merely power.
Rāvaṇa urges Mahodara to enter battle decisively and break the opposing forces, presenting it as a moment of obligation and honor.
Parākrama (heroic prowess) and loyalty-in-action—fighting effectively when commanded.