Shloka 26

प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्

Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host

Devanagari script

अथामन्त्ऱ्यतुराजानंभेरीमाहत्यभैरवाम् ।आरुरोहरथंयुक्तःप्रहस्तस्सज्जकल्पितम् ।।6.57.25।।हयैर्महाजवैर्युक्तंसम्यक्सूतसुसंयतम् ।महाजलदनिर्घोषंसाक्षाच्चन्द्रार्कभास्वरम् ।।6.57.26।।उरगध्वजदुर्धर्षंसुवरूथंस्ववस्करम् ।सुवर्णजालसंयुक्तंप्रहसन्तमिवश्रिया ।।6.57.27।।

Transliteration

hayair mahājavair yuktaṃ samyak sūtasusaṃyatam |

mahājaladanirghoṣaṃ sākṣāc candrārkabhāsvaram ||6.57.26||

Translation

Lalu Prahasta menaiki keretanya—ditarik oleh kuda-kuda yang sangat pantas, dikendalikan dengan cermat oleh sais yang mahir; bergemuruh seperti awan ribut besar dan bersinar laksana bulan serta matahari sendiri.

Word by Word

• हयैः: by horses
• हयैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करणे), बहुवचनम्; Instrumental plural

• महाजवैः: very swift / of great speed
• महाजवैः: करण (Instrument) (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाजव (प्रातिपदिक; महा + जव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; हयैः इति विशेषणम्; Instrumental plural adjective

• युक्तम्: yoked / harnessed
• युक्तम्: कर्म (Object) (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्ययः); नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; रथम् इति विशेषणम्; Past passive participle, accusative singular neuter

• सम्यक्: properly / well
• सम्यक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (रीत्या); Indeclinable adverb

• सूतसुसंयतम्: well-controlled by the charioteer
• सूतसुसंयतम्: कर्म (Object) (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूत + सुसंयत (प्रातिपदिक; सु- + संयत)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सूतस्य सुसंयतम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; रथम् इति विशेषणम्; Accusative singular neuter adjective

• महाजलदनिर्घोषम्: having a roar like great thunderclouds
• महाजलदनिर्घोषम्: कर्म (Object) (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाजलद + निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक; महा + जलद + निर्घोष)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महाजलदानां निर्घोषः इव/सदृशः); नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; रथम् इति विशेषणम्; Accusative singular neuter adjective

• साक्षात्: as if directly / verily
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; उपमान/निश्चयार्थक-क्रियाविशेषणम्; Indeclinable (directly/indeed)

• चन्द्रार्कभास्वरम्: shining like the moon and the sun
• चन्द्रार्कभास्वरम्: कर्म (Object) (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र + अर्क + भास्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद (चन्द्र + अर्क) ततः कर्मधारय-भावः (चन्द्रार्कयोः भास्वरम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; रथम् इति विशेषणम्; Accusative singular neuter adjective

Context

Taking leave of the king and causing terrific sound of blowing of drums, Prahastha, ascended, laughing on to a splendorous chariot, equipped to fight, driven by horses endowed with good speed and capable charioteer, sounding like a thundering cloud, shining like the sun and moon, with a sign of serpent on flag, provided with a wooden fence for defence, which was difficult to collide, covered with gold net.

Characters & Entities

• Prahasta
• Chariot
• Horses
• Charioteer
• Moon (Candra)
• Sun (Arka)

FAQs

What dharmic idea is conveyed by describing the chariot as properly controlled (samyak sūtasusaṃyatam)?

It highlights discipline and right conduct in action: even in war, power must be governed by skill, restraint, and order—qualities aligned with dharma.

How does this verse relate to satya (truthfulness) in the epic style?

The narration aims at satya through vivid yet conventional similes (cloud-thunder, sun-moon radiance) that truthfully convey the chariot’s might and splendor without altering the ethical frame of the story.