Mahabharata 3.232.37 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 232, Shloka 37

Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve

Gandharva Encounter

Devanagari script

यमस्य पृष्ठतश्चैव घोरस्त्रेशिखर: शित:

Transliteration

yamasya pṛṣṭhataś caiva ghorāstreśikharaḥ śitaḥ

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya disse: “E atrás de Yama erguia-se uma arma afiada e terrível—com o cimo como uma ponta em chamas—acrescentando pavor à sua presença.”

Word by Word

• यमस्य: of Yama
• यमस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पृष्ठतः: from behind, at the back
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठ
• Form: Adverb (ablatival in sense)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Conjunction

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: Particle

• घोर: terrible, dreadful
• घोर: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्त्र-शिखरः: weapon-point / spearhead (lit. 'weapon-peak')
• अस्त्र-शिखरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्रशिखर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शितः: sharp, whetted
• शितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past participle (kta), from √शि (to sharpen)

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Yama
• astra (weapon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores Yama’s role as an embodiment of inexorable moral order: death and judgment are not arbitrary but backed by an irresistible, fearsome power that compels accountability.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya is describing Yama’s formidable appearance, noting that a terrifying, sharp weapon stands behind him, heightening the scene’s sense of dread and authority.