Mahabharata 3.137.17 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 137, Shloka 17

यवक्रीत-वधः

The Slaying of Yavakrīta at Raibhya’s Hermitage

Devanagari script

स काल्यमानो घोरेण शूलहस्तेन रक्षसा । अगन्निहोत्रं पितुर्भीत: सहसा प्रविवेश ह,तब हाथमें शूल लिये उस भयानक राक्षसके खदेड़नेपर यवक्रीत अत्यन्त भयभीत हो सहसा अपने पिताके अग्निहोत्रगृहमें घुसने लगा

Transliteration

sa kālyamāno ghoreṇa śūlahastena rakṣasā | agannihotraṃ pitur bhītaḥ sahasā praviveśa ha ||

Translation

అప్పుడు శూలం చేతబట్టి ఉన్న భయంకర రాక్షసుడు వెంటాడగా, యవక్రీతుడు అత్యంత భయంతో సహసా తన తండ్రి అగ్నిహోత్ర గృహంలోకి పరుగెత్తి ప్రవేశించాడు.

Word by Word

• सः: he (Yavakrīta)
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• काल्यमानः: being driven/chased
• काल्यमानः: Karta
• Type: Participle
• Root: काल्य (√कल्/√काल् caus. 'to drive/impel')
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Passive, Present, Present passive participle

• घोरेण: by the terrible (one)
• घोरेण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शूलहस्तेन: by (one) having a spear in hand
• शूलहस्तेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूलहस्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• रक्षसा: by the rākṣasa/demon
• रक्षसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अग्निहोत्रम्: the agnihotra (sacrificial fire-rite / fire-place contextually)
• अग्निहोत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निहोत्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पितुः: of (his) father
• पितुः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• भीतः: frightened
• भीतः: Karta
• Type: Participle
• Root: भी (√भी)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Active, Past, Past passive participle (used adjectivally)

• सहसा: suddenly/quickly
• सहसा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

• प्रविवेश: entered
• प्रविवेश: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √विश्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ह: indeed/just (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह

Speaker

लोगश उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yavakrīta
• Rākṣasa
• Śūla (spear)
• Agnihotra-gṛha (father’s fire-ritual house)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how fear exposes human vulnerability and how one instinctively seeks refuge; ethically, it points to the broader Mahābhārata theme that earlier conduct and lack of restraint can culminate in crisis, where even sacred spaces become places of desperate shelter rather than calm practice.

What is happening in the narrative?

A spear-armed, terrifying rākṣasa is chasing Yavakrīta. In panic, Yavakrīta abruptly runs into his father’s Agnihotra-house (the place associated with the daily fire-offering), seeking immediate protection.