Shloka 10

दूषणवधः

The Slaying of Dūṣaṇa and the Rout of Khara’s Host

Devanagari script

स च्छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः।।3.26.9।।जग्राह गिरिशृङ्गाभं परिघं रोमहर्षणम्।वेष्टितं काञ्चनैः पट्टैर्देवसैन्यप्रमर्दनम्।।3.26.10।।आयसैश्शङ्कुभिस्तीक्ष्णैः कीर्णं परवसोक्षितम्।वज्राशनिसमस्पर्शं परगोपुरदारणम्।।3.26.11।।

Transliteration

sa cchinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ |

jagrāha giriśṛṅgābhaṃ parighaṃ romaharṣaṇam |

veṣṭitaṃ kāñcanaiḥ paṭṭair devasainyapramardanam ||

āyasaiḥ śaṅkubhis tīkṣṇaiḥ kīrṇaṃ paravasokṣitam |

vajrāśanisamasparśaṃ paragopuradāraṇam ||

Translation

ధనుస్సు తెగి, రథం లేక, అశ్వాలు మరియు సారథి హతులైన స్థితిలో అతడు పర్వతశిఖరసమానమైన, రోమాంచకరమైన ఇనుప పరిఘాన్ని పట్టుకున్నాడు—సువర్ణ పట్టీలతో బిగించబడినది, దేవసేనకూడా మర్దించగలది, పదునైన ఇనుప ముళ్లతో నిండినది, శత్రు రక్తంతో లేపబడినది, వజ్రాఘాతసమ స్పర్శగలది, శత్రు గోపురాన్ని చీల్చగలది।

Word by Word

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular pronoun)

• mahā-uraga-saṅkāśam: like a huge serpent
• mahā-uraga-saṅkāśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + uraga (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: महोरगस्य सङ्काशः (like a great serpent)

• pragṛhya: having seized
• pragṛhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive), √grah with उपसर्ग ‘pra-’; meaning: having grasped

• parigham: club/bar (parigha)
• parigham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parigha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular)

• dūṣaṇaḥ: Dūṣaṇa
• dūṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular; proper noun)

• abhyadravat: rushed toward
• abhyadravat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-dru (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; √dru (to run) with उपसर्ग ‘abhi-’

• rāmam: Rāma
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• krūra-karmā: cruel-doer
• krūra-karmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krūra (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: क्रूरं कर्म यस्य (one of cruel deeds)

• niśācaraḥ: night-roaming demon
• niśācaraḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: निशायां चरति (night-roamer, demon)

Context

Mighty-armed Dusana saw the army getting killed in war. He led the forces of five thousand demons, dreadfuly quick at fighting, dangeous to face and who will not beat a retreat.

Characters & Entities

• Dūṣaṇa
• parigha (iron club/bar)
• thunderbolt (vajra/aśani)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores how adharma relies on terror and brute force; Dharma stands not on frightening instruments but on rightful cause and self-mastery.

What is the narrative situation?

After suffering losses (bow, chariot, horses, charioteer), Dūṣaṇa arms himself with a massive spiked parigha to continue the fight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance is shown (though in an unrighteous cause); by contrast, the episode sets up Rāma’s righteous courage to meet escalating violence without losing moral clarity.