Jabali Bound on the Banyan Tree and Nandayanti’s Appeal at Sri-Kantha on the Yamuna
घातयिष्यति वा विप्रं यदा प्रक्षिप्त चासुरान् तदास्य स्वयमेवाहं करिष्ये कायशोधनम्
ghātayiṣyati vā vipraṃ yadā prakṣipta cāsurān tadāsya svayamevāhaṃ kariṣye kāyaśodhanam
அல்லது அவன் ஒரு பிராமணனை கொல்வான்; மேலும் அசுரர்களைத் தாக்கி/துன்புறுத்துவான்; அப்போது நான் தானே அவனுடைய உடலின் ‘சுத்திகரிப்பை’ செய்வேன் (அதாவது தண்டித்து அழிப்பேன்)।
{ "primaryRasa": "raudra", "secondaryRasa": "vira", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
In this punitive-prophetic context it is best read as a euphemism for decisive divine correction—often culminating in destruction of the offender—so that the moral pollution (especially brahmahatyā) is removed from the world-order.
Brahmahatyā (killing a brāhmaṇa) is treated in Purāṇic dharma as one of the gravest transgressions, destabilizing ritual order and inviting immediate divine retribution.
The phrase can indicate being ‘set upon/let loose against’ the asuras or being ‘driven among’ them—either way, it marks escalation into violent, chaotic conduct that triggers the promised personal intervention.