Shloka 51

त्रिशिरा–देवान्तक–महोदर–मत्त

महापार्श्व) वधः | Slaying of Trisira, Devantaka, Mahodara, and Matta (Mahaparsva

Devanagari script

जग्राहार्चिष्मतींघोरांगदांसर्वायसींशुभां ।।।।हेमपट्टपरिक्षिप्तांमांसशोणितफेनिलाम् ।विराजमानांवपुषांशत्रुशोणितरंजिताम् ।।।।तेजसासंप्रदीप्ताग्रांरक्तमाल्यविभूषिताम् ।ऐरावतमहापद्मसार्वभौमभयावहाम् ।।।।

Transliteration

jagrāhārciṣmatīṃ ghorāṃ gadāṃ sarvāyasīṃ śubhām |

hemapaṭṭaparikṣiptāṃ māṃsaśoṇitaphenilām |

virājamānāṃ vapuṣā śatruśoṇitarañjitām |

tejasā saṃpradīptāgrāṃ raktamālyavibhūṣitām |

airāvatamahāpadmasārvabhaumabha yāvahām ||

Translation

แล้วเขาก็คว้าคทาอันน่าสะพรึงและส่องประกาย—ทำด้วยเหล็กล้วนแต่สง่างาม—รัดด้วยแถบทอง มีฟองปนเนื้อและโลหิต; รูปทรงรุ่งเรือง ถูกย้อมแดงด้วยเลือดศัตรู; ปลายคทาลุกโพลงด้วยเดชานุภาพ ประดับพวงมาลัยสีแดง และเลื่องลือว่าเป็นที่หวาดหวั่นแม้แก่อิราวตะ มหาปัทมะ และสารวเภามะ

Word by Word

• जग्राह: seized
• जग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अर्चिष्मतीम्: radiant
• अर्चिष्मतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arciṣmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘गदाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• घोराम्: terrible
• घोराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘गदाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• सर्वायसीम्: all-iron
• सर्वायसीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva-āyasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: सर्वा आयसी (सर्वतः आयसी/सर्वथा आयसी—iron-made); स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘गदाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• शुभाम्: auspicious/splendid
• शुभाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘गदाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• हेमपट्टपरिक्षिप्ताम्: wrapped/bound with gold bands
• हेमपट्टपरिक्षिप्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema-paṭṭa + pari-kṣip (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (instrumental sense): हेमपट्टेन परिक्षिप्ता; स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘गदाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मांसशोणितफेनिलाम्: frothy/smeared with flesh and blood
• मांसशोणितफेनिलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māṃsa-śoṇita-phenila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative chain): मांस-शोणितेन फेनिला (frothy/smeared with flesh and blood); स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विराजमानाम्: shining
• विराजमानाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāj (धातु) + vi + māna (शानच्, present participle)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्/आत्मनेपदीय-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘गदाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वपुषा: with (its) appearance
• वपुषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vapus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भाव (by/with its form)

• शत्रुशोणितरञ्जिताम्: reddened by enemies' blood
• शत्रुशोणितरञ्जिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śatru-śoṇita + rañj (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: शत्रूणां शोणितेन रञ्जिता; स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तेजसा: by radiance
• तेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (by brilliance)

• संप्रदीप्ताग्राम्: with a blazing tip/head
• संप्रदीप्ताग्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-pra-dīp (धातु) + ta (क्त) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: संप्रदीप्तम् अग्रं यस्याः सा; स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रक्तमाल्यविभूषिताम्: adorned with a red garland
• रक्तमाल्यविभूषिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta-mālya + vi-bhūṣ (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: रक्तमाल्येन विभूषिता; स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ऐरावतमहापद्मसार्वभौमभयावहाम्: bringing fear to Airāvata, Mahāpadma, and Sārvabhauma
• ऐरावतमहापद्मसार्वभौमभयावहाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: airāvata + mahāpadma + sārvabhauma + bhaya-āvaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative): ऐरावत-महापद्म-सार्वभौमानां भयम् आवहति इति; स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘गदाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Context

Mahaparsva seized hold of a good venerable, all-powerful mace plated with gold, smeared with flesh and blood, shining with lustre, shining red with enemy's blood, an effulgent one whose head has been glowing decorated with red flower garlands that brought terror to Airavatam, Mahapadma, and Sarvabhuama, the three elephants guarding the three of the four quarters.

Characters & Entities

• Matta (implied by continuation from prior verse)
• gadā (mace)
• Airāvata
• Mahāpadma

FAQs

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

The verse warns that splendour of weapons and terror-inspiring power are not markers of righteousness; Dharma is measured by purpose and restraint, not by frightening display.

What is the narrative situation?

Matta prepares to re-enter combat by taking up an extraordinarily fearsome mace, described in vivid, hyperbolic detail.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indirectly, the text highlights the danger of āyudha-mada (intoxication with weapon-power): reliance on brute force without dharmic restraint.