Shloka 39

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

नीलःशरैरभिहतोनिशितैर्ज्वलनोपमैः ।।।।सतंपरमदुर्धर्षमापतन्तंमहाकपिः ।प्रहस्तंताडयामासवृक्षमुत्पाट्यवीर्यवान् ।।।।

Transliteration

nīlaḥ śarair abhihato niśitair jvalanopamaiḥ |

sa taṃ parama-durdharṣam āpatantaṃ mahākapiḥ |

prahastaṃ tāḍayāmāsa vṛkṣam utpāṭya vīryavān ||6.58.39-40||

Translation

Dipukul oleh anak panah tajam yang menyala bagaikan api, Nīla—mahākapi yang gagah—mencabut sebatang pohon lalu menghentam Prahasta yang mara, musuh yang amat sukar ditandingi.

Word by Word

• nīlaḥ: Nīla
• nīlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Proper noun

• śaraiḥ: by arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• abhihataḥ: struck/hit
• abhihataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-han (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with ‘nīlaḥ’

• niśitaiḥ: sharp
• niśitaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; qualifies ‘śaraiḥ’

• jvalanopamaiḥ: fire-like
• jvalanopamaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jvalana (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/उपमान-समास: ‘jvalanasya upamā’ (like fire); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; qualifies ‘śaraiḥ’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tam: him (that one)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• paramadurdharṣam: most formidable
• paramadurdharṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + durdharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘paramaḥ durdharṣaḥ’ (most formidable); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies ‘tam (prahastam)’

• āpatantam: rushing (towards)
• āpatantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-pat (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies ‘tam’

• mahākapiḥ: the great monkey (chief)
• mahākapiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘mahān kapiḥ’ (great monkey); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to ‘saḥ (nīlaḥ)’

• prahastam: Prahastha
• prahastam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tāḍayāmāsa: struck
• tāḍayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tāḍ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative stem (णिच्) ‘ताडय-’

• vṛkṣam: a tree
• vṛkṣam: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• utpāṭya: having uprooted
• utpāṭya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-pāṭ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्यय; धातु: पाट्/पाटय् (to tear out) with उपसर्ग ‘उत्’

• vīryavān: valiant, powerful
• vīryavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīryavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; possessive adjective

Context

The arrows discharged by Prahastha, penetrated piercing into Nila's body at great speed like infuriated serpents and went straight into the earth.

Characters & Entities

• Nīla
• Prahasta

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse models steadfast duty under suffering: even when wounded, Nīla does not abandon the fight, but acts to stop a dangerous aggressor. It reflects Dharmic perseverance—enduring pain to protect one’s community and uphold a righteous cause.

What is the narrative situation?

After being pierced by Prahasta’s arrows, Nīla retaliates immediately by uprooting a tree and striking the charging Prahasta.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣānti with vīrya—endurance combined with valor—shown by Nīla’s ability to continue and counterattack despite injury.