Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 56

Duryodhana-patana-anuśocana

The Fall of Duryodhana and the Contest of Restraint

Devanagari script

बहुपादैर्बहुभुजै: कबन्धैर्घोरदर्शनै:

Transliteration

bahupādair bahubhujaiḥ kabandhair ghoradarśanaiḥ

Translation

வாயுதேவன் கூறினான்—போர்க்களம் முழுவதும் தலைற்ற உடற்பிண்டங்களால் நிரம்பியுள்ளது; அவை பார்ப்பதற்கு அச்சமூட்டுவன, பல கால்களும் பல கரங்களும் உடையன.

Word by Word

• बहुपादैः: with many feet
• बहुपादैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुपाद
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बहुभुजैः: with many arms
• बहुभुजैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुभुज
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• कबन्धैः: with headless trunks (kabandhas)
• कबन्धैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कबन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• घोरदर्शनैः: of dreadful appearance
• घोरदर्शनैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोरदर्शन
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu-deva
• kabandha (headless trunk)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the grim reality of war: even mighty bodies become mutilated remains. It implicitly warns against delusion and pride, pointing to the impermanence of life and the ethical weight of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu-deva describes a terrifying battlefield scene where decapitated bodies (kabandhas) appear with many limbs, emphasizing the chaos and dread produced by the ongoing slaughter.