Shloka 10

दूषणवधः

The Slaying of Dūṣaṇa and the Rout of Khara’s Host

Devanagari script

स च्छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः।।3.26.9।।जग्राह गिरिशृङ्गाभं परिघं रोमहर्षणम्।वेष्टितं काञ्चनैः पट्टैर्देवसैन्यप्रमर्दनम्।।3.26.10।।आयसैश्शङ्कुभिस्तीक्ष्णैः कीर्णं परवसोक्षितम्।वज्राशनिसमस्पर्शं परगोपुरदारणम्।।3.26.11।।

Transliteration

sa cchinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ |

jagrāha giriśṛṅgābhaṃ parighaṃ romaharṣaṇam |

veṣṭitaṃ kāñcanaiḥ paṭṭair devasainyapramardanam ||

āyasaiḥ śaṅkubhis tīkṣṇaiḥ kīrṇaṃ paravasokṣitam |

vajrāśanisamasparśaṃ paragopuradāraṇam ||

Translation

ଧନୁଷ୍ୟ ଛିନ୍ନ, ରଥହୀନ, ଅଶ୍ୱ ଓ ସାରଥି ହତ ହୋଇଥିବା ସେ ଗିରିଶିଖର ସଦୃଶ ରୋମାଞ୍ଚକର ପରିଘକୁ ଧରିଲା—ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପଟ୍ଟିରେ ବେଷ୍ଟିତ, ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣ ଲୋହା କଣ୍ଟକରେ ଜଡିତ, ଶତ୍ରୁର ରକ୍ତରେ ଲେପିତ; ବଜ୍ରସ୍ପର୍ଶ ସମ କଠୋର, ପରଶତ୍ରୁ ଗୋପୁର ଭେଦକ, ଦେବସେନାକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ମର୍ଦ୍ଦନ କରୁଥିବା।

Word by Word

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular pronoun)

• mahā-uraga-saṅkāśam: like a huge serpent
• mahā-uraga-saṅkāśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + uraga (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: महोरगस्य सङ्काशः (like a great serpent)

• pragṛhya: having seized
• pragṛhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive), √grah with उपसर्ग ‘pra-’; meaning: having grasped

• parigham: club/bar (parigha)
• parigham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parigha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular)

• dūṣaṇaḥ: Dūṣaṇa
• dūṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular; proper noun)

• abhyadravat: rushed toward
• abhyadravat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-dru (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; √dru (to run) with उपसर्ग ‘abhi-’

• rāmam: Rāma
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• krūra-karmā: cruel-doer
• krūra-karmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krūra (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: क्रूरं कर्म यस्य (one of cruel deeds)

• niśācaraḥ: night-roaming demon
• niśācaraḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: निशायां चरति (night-roamer, demon)

Context

Mighty-armed Dusana saw the army getting killed in war. He led the forces of five thousand demons, dreadfuly quick at fighting, dangeous to face and who will not beat a retreat.

Characters & Entities

• Dūṣaṇa
• parigha (iron club/bar)
• thunderbolt (vajra/aśani)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores how adharma relies on terror and brute force; Dharma stands not on frightening instruments but on rightful cause and self-mastery.

What is the narrative situation?

After suffering losses (bow, chariot, horses, charioteer), Dūṣaṇa arms himself with a massive spiked parigha to continue the fight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance is shown (though in an unrighteous cause); by contrast, the episode sets up Rāma’s righteous courage to meet escalating violence without losing moral clarity.