Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 98, Shloka 29

महोदरवधः

The Slaying of Mahodara

Devanagari script

थैव च महाखडगंचर्मणापतितंसह ।।6.98.29।।जग्राहवानरश्रेष्ठस्सुग्रीवोवेगवत्तरः।।

Transliteration

tathaiva ca mahākhaḍgaṃ carmaṇā patitaṃ saha |

jagrāha vānaraśreṣṭhaḥ sugrīvo vegavattaraḥ ||6.98.29||

Translation

அதேபோல், வானரர்களில் சிறந்ததும் மேலும் வேகமுடையதுமான சுக்ரீவன் அங்கே விழுந்திருந்த பெருவாளை கேடயத்துடன் எடுத்தான்।

Word by Word

• तथैव: just so; likewise
• तथैव: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक) + eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable); emphatic adverbial phrase

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महाखड्गम्: the great sword
• महाखड्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: महांश्चासौ खड्गः

• चर्मणा: with the shield
• चर्मणा: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• पतितम्: fallen
• पतितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pat (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; महाखड्गम् इति विशेषण

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahārtha (सहार्थ/with)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (with); तृतीया-सहयोगे प्रयुज्यते

• जग्राह: seized; took up
• जग्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• वानरश्रेष्ठः: the best of monkeys
• वानरश्रेष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वानराणां श्रेष्ठः

• सुग्रीवः: Sugriva
• सुग्रीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य (apposition to वानरश्रेष्ठः)

• वेगवत्तरः: swifter; very swift
• वेगवत्तरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vegavat (प्रातिपदिक) + tara (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तर-प्रत्यय (comparative): ‘more swift’; सुग्रीवस्य विशेषण

Context

Rakshasa's army was killed by Vanaras and drastically reduced. Seeing the adversary of God's grace, Ravana was agonized on witnessing it.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Vānara
• Sword (khaḍga)
• Shield (carma)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Leadership in dharma-yuddha requires preparedness and equal resolve; Sugrīva models responsible command by meeting force with disciplined readiness.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva arms himself for a weapons duel, matching Mahodara’s escalation from wrestling to armed combat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and martial competence—Sugrīva responds quickly and appropriately to changing conditions.