Shloka 35

Yuddha-yajña-vyākhyāna (The Battle as Sacrifice): Ambarīṣa–Indra Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

ऋष्टिखड्गमहानौका गृध्रकड्कबलप्लवा । पुरुषादानुचरिता भीरूणां कश्मलावहा

Transliteration

ṛṣṭikhaḍgamahānaukā gṛdhrakaḍkabalaplavā | puruṣādānucaritā bhīrūṇāṁ kaśmalāvahā ||

Translation

Ambarīṣa berkata: “ ‘Perahu’ besar ini diperbuat daripada tombak dan pedang, dan rakit-rakitnya dibentuk daripada batalion yang garang, seperti burung hering. Ia dikemudikan oleh pengikut yang memakan manusia, dan membawa kekeliruan serta panik moral kepada mereka yang penakut.”

Word by Word

ऋष्टिखड्गमहानौकाshe whose great boat is spear-and-sword (i.e., armed with spear and sword as her great vessel)

गृध्रकङ्कबलप्लवाshe whose raft/float is the strength of vultures and herons (i.e., supported by vulture-and-kanka forces)

पुरुषादानुचरिताfollowed by man-seizing (i.e., attended by those who seize men)

भीरूणाम्of the timid/cowardly

कश्मलावहाbringing delusion/distress

Speaker

अम्बरीष उवाच

Characters & Entities

Ambarīṣa

spears (ṛṣṭi)

swords (khaḍga)

boat (naukā)

vultures (gṛdhra)

army/forces (bala)

man-eaters (puruṣāda)

the timid (bhīru)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse warns that a path driven by weapons, predatory forces, and cruel followers generates kaśmala—inner confusion and ethical collapse—especially in those who lack steadiness; it cautions against being carried along by violent, fear-inducing power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ambarīṣa speaks in a vivid metaphor, describing a terrifying ‘boat’ of warfare—built from spears and swords and supported by fierce troops—guided by savage attendants, emphasizing how such an environment overwhelms and destabilizes the fearful.