Shloka 64

Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve

Gandharva Encounter

Devanagari script

पर्वताक्ष शतघ्न्यक्ष प्रासासिपरिघा गदा: । निपतद्धिश्व तैघेरिदेवानीकं महायुधै:

Transliteration

parvatākṣa-śataghnīyakṣa-prāsāsi-parighā gadāḥ | nipatad dhiśva tais tīvrair devānīkaṁ mahāyudhaiḥ ||

Translation

मार्कंडेय म्हणाले—तेव्हा पर्वतशिळांसारखे प्रक्षेप्य, शतघ्नी, प्रास, असि, परिघ आणि गदा अशा महायुद्धशस्त्रांच्या घोर वर्षावाने देवसेना सर्व बाजूंनी आघातली गेली।

Word by Word

पर्वताःmountains

अक्षाःaxles (or dice/eyes; here likely axles as missiles)

शतघ्न्यःsataghnī weapons (missiles/stone-balls)

प्रासाःspears

असयःswords

परिघाःiron clubs/bars

गदाःmaces

निपतत्falling down

दिशःthe directions

चand

तैःby those

घोरैःterrible

देवानीकम्the army/host of the gods

महायुधैःwith great weapons

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

devānīka (host of the gods)

weapons: śataghnī, prāsa, asi, parigha, gadā, parvatākṣa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores that in war—even when one’s cause is aligned with dharma—one must endure severe trials. Ethical steadiness is tested not by comfort but by the pressure of violent opposition, where courage and discipline become moral necessities.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes a fierce assault in which powerful weapons—spears, swords, maces, iron bars, and heavy missiles—rain down upon the army of the gods, striking them from all directions.