Shloka 86

Pṛthā’s Atithi-Sevā and the Gift of the Deva-Āhvāna Mantra (पृथायाः अतिथिसेवा तथा देवाह्वानमन्त्रप्रदानम्)

Devanagari script

शालेन जध्निवान्‌ मूर्घ्नि बलेन कपिकुञ्जर: । महामना कपिगश्रेष्ठ सुग्रीवने बड़े वेगसे उछलकर एक शालवृक्षके द्वारा कुम्भकर्णके मस्तकपर बलपूर्वक प्रहार किया

Transliteration

śālena jadhnivān mūrdhni balena kapikuñjaraḥ | mahāmanā kapigraṣṭhaḥ sugrīveṇa baḍe vegase uchalakar eka śālavṛkṣake dvārā kumbhakarṇake mastakapar balapūrvaka prahāra kiyā |

Translation

మహామనస్కుడూ కపిశ్రేష్ఠుడైన సుగ్రీవుడు మహావేగంతో ఎగిరి, ఒక శాలవృక్షంతో కుంభకర్ణుని శిరస్సుపై బలంగా మోదాడు.

Word by Word

शालेनwith a śāla tree

जध्निवान्having struck / having smitten

मूर्ध्निon the head

बलेनwith force

कपिकुञ्जरःthe monkey-bull (mighty monkey)

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Sugrīva

Kumbhakarṇa

śāla tree (śālavṛkṣa)

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?

The verse highlights valor and steadfast loyalty in conflict: when aligned with one’s cause and duty, decisive strength and courage are portrayed as legitimate instruments of action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates a battle episode in which the powerful monkey-hero (identified here with Sugrīva) leaps at great speed and strikes Kumbhakarṇa on the head using a śāla tree as a weapon.