Shloka 6
महोदरवधः
The Slaying of Mahodara
एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वाराक्षसेन्द्रोमहोदरः ।प्रविवेशारिसेनांतांपतङ्गइवपावकम् ।।6.98.6।।
evam uktaḥ tathety uktvā rākṣasendro mahodaraḥ |
praviveśārisenāṃ tāṃ pataṅga iva pāvakam ||6.98.6||
ഇങ്ങനെ പറയപ്പെട്ടപ്പോൾ, രാക്ഷസന്മാരിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ മഹോദരൻ “തഥാസ്തു” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു, പറ്റങ്ങ് അഗ്നിയിലേക്കു ചാടുന്നതുപോലെ ആ ശത്രുസൈന്യത്തിലേക്ക് കുതിച്ചു കയറി.
And then Ravana spoke to Mahodara who was close by, one who is difficult to encounter, saying " At this time the hope for my victory is centered in you."
FAQs
The simile warns about reckless commitment to a doomed or unrighteous course—courage without discernment can become self-destruction.
Mahodara accepts Rāvaṇa’s command and charges into the opposing forces, foreshadowed as perilous through the fire-simile.
Fearlessness and obedience; the verse also implies the need for viveka (judgment), since bravery alone may lead to ruin.