Shloka 2

The Slaying of Vṛtrāsura

Devanagari script

आगच्छंतं ततो वृत्रं शरैः कालानलप्रभैः । विव्याध सर्वगात्रेषु द्विरदस्थो महाहवे

Transliteration

āgacchaṃtaṃ tato vṛtraṃ śaraiḥ kālānalaprabhaiḥ | vivyādha sarvagātreṣu dviradastho mahāhave

Translation

வ்ருத்ரன் நெருங்கி வந்தபோது, அந்த மாபெரும் போரில் யானைமேல் இருந்த வீரன் காலாக்னியைப் போன்ற தீவிர ஒளியுடைய அம்புகளால் அவன் உடலெங்கும் துளைத்தான்।

Word by Word

• आगच्छन्तम्: coming, approaching
• आगच्छन्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle) 'आगच्छन्त्'; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular; qualifying वृत्रम्

• ततः: then, from there
• ततः: देश/काल (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (place/time)

• वृत्रम्: Vṛtra
• वृत्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; proper name; Accusative singular

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• काल-अनल-प्रभैः: having the radiance of the fire of Time (death-fire)
• काल-अनल-प्रभैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + अनल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपमान/निर्धारण: 'कालानलस्य प्रभा इव'); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; qualifying शरैः

• विव्याध: he pierced
• विव्याध: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular perfect

• सर्व-गात्रेषु: in all (his) limbs
• सर्व-गात्रेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('सर्वाणि गात्राणि'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; Locative plural

• द्विरद-स्थः: standing on an elephant
• द्विरद-स्थः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विरद (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त, √स्था)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी: 'द्विरदे स्थः'); 'स्थ' = क्त/निष्ठा-प्रत्ययान्त? (स्थः as adjectival noun 'standing/being'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• महा-हवे: in the great battle
• महा-हवे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + हव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('महान् हवः'); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

Speaker

Narrator (contextual epic narration within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa; explicit dialogue speaker not stated in this verse alone)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: आगच्छंतं = आगच्छन्तम् (अनुस्वार-लेखन); कालानलप्रभैः = काल + अनल + प्रभैः; सर्वगात्रेषु = सर्व + गात्रेषु; द्विरदस्थो = द्विरद-स्थः.

Characters & Entities

• Vṛtra

FAQs

Who is Vṛtra in this verse?

Vṛtra is a well-known asura (often portrayed as a serpent-like adversary) featured in Purāṇic and Vedic battle narratives, here depicted advancing into a major conflict.

What does the phrase 'kālānala-prabhaiḥ' imply about the arrows?

It compares the arrows’ brilliance and destructive force to the 'fire of Time' (kāla) and a consuming blaze (anala), emphasizing overwhelming, fate-like power in battle imagery.

What ethical or thematic lesson is suggested by this martial description?

The verse stresses resolve and intensity in confronting adharma: the advancing threat is met with unwavering action, portraying decisive courage within the framework of righteous warfare.