Shloka 31

Guṇa-vibhāga and Prāṇa–Agni–Yoga Upadeśa (गुणविभाग तथा प्राण-अग्नि-योगोपदेश)

Devanagari script

न हि धुन्धुर्महातेजास्तेजसाल्पेन शक्‍्यते । निर्दग्धुं पथिवीपाल स हि वर्षशतैरपि,राजन! धुन्धु महातेजस्वी असुर है। साधारण तेजसे सौ वर्षोमें भी कोई उसे नष्ट नहीं कर सकता

Transliteration

na hi dhundhur mahātejās tejasā alpena śakyate | nirdagdhuṃ pṛthivīpāla sa hi varṣaśatair api ||

Translation

ஓ பூமி காப்போனே! துந்து மிகுந்த தேஜஸுடையவன்; சிறிதளவு தேஜஸால் அவனை எரித்து அழிக்க இயலாது. நூறு ஆண்டுகள் சென்றாலும் அவன் எளிதில் அழிவதில்லை.

Word by Word

nanot

hiindeed/for

dhundhuḥDhundhu (name of an asura)

mahā-tejāḥof great splendor/very powerful

tejasāby (means of) splendor/energy

alpenaby a small (amount)

śakyateis possible/can be

nir-dagdhuṃto burn up/to destroy by burning

pṛthivī-pālaO protector of the earth (king)

saḥhe

hiindeed

varṣa-śataiḥby hundreds of years/even in hundreds of years

apieven/also

rājanO king

Speaker

उत्तड़क उवाच

Characters & Entities

Uttanka

Dhundhu

pṛthivīpāla (the king addressed)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Great evils or entrenched threats cannot be overcome by half-measures; a ruler must recognize the true magnitude of a danger and respond with proportionate strength, perseverance, and resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

Uttanka warns the king that the asura Dhundhu possesses extraordinary fiery power and cannot be destroyed by ordinary means or a small effort; the statement prepares the listener for the need of exceptional action to confront him.