Shloka 40

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

नीलःशरैरभिहतोनिशितैर्ज्वलनोपमैः ।।6.58.39।।सतंपरमदुर्धर्षमापतन्तंमहाकपिः ।प्रहस्तंताडयामासवृक्षमुत्पाट्यवीर्यवान् ।।6.58.40।।

Transliteration

nīlaḥ śarair abhihato niśitair jvalanopamaiḥ |

sa taṃ parama-durdharṣam āpatantaṃ mahākapiḥ |

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

Translation

Nīla, atingido por flechas agudas, ardentes como o fogo, o grande Vānara de imenso vigor, arrancou uma árvore e golpeou Prahasta quando este avançava—Prahasta, adversário dificílimo de enfrentar.

Word by Word

• ājaghāna: struck
• ājaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-han (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: हन् with उपसर्ग ‘आ’

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• nīlam: Nīla
• nīlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• lalāṭe: on the forehead
• lalāṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lalāṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• musalena: with a mace/mallet
• musalena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: musala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

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

• prahastaḥ: Prahastha
• prahastaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• paramāyattaḥ: with utmost force/fully intent
• paramāyattaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + āyatta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘paramaḥ āyattaḥ’ (fully intent/with utmost force); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies ‘prahastaḥ’

• tataḥ: thereupon
• tataḥ: Kārya-krama (क्रमसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थक (thereupon/from that)

• susrāva: flowed out
• susrāva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: su-sru (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: स्रु (to flow) with उपसर्ग ‘सु’ (intensive/augment)

• śoṇitam: blood
• śoṇitam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoṇita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject of ‘susrāva’

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.