Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 98, Shloka 8

महोदरवधः

The Slaying of Mahodara

Devanagari script

वानराश्चमहासत्त्वाःप्रगृह्वःविपुलाशशिलाः ।प्रविश्यारिबलंभीमंजघ्नुस्तेरजनीचरान् ।।6.98.8।।

Transliteration

vānarāś ca mahāsattvāḥ pragṛhya vipulāḥ śilāḥ |

praviśyāribalaṃ bhīmaṃ jaghnus te rajanīcarān ||6.98.8||

Translation

ฝ่ายวานรผู้มีจิตใจยิ่งใหญ่ทั้งหลาย ก็ยกศิลาก้อนมหึมาขึ้น แล้วพุ่งเข้าใส่กองทัพศัตรูอันน่าหวาดหวั่น และสังหารเหล่ารากษสผู้ท่องราตรีให้ล้มลง

Word by Word

• वानराः: monkeys
• वानराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (वानर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nom.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• महासत्त्वाः: great and mighty
• महासत्त्वाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + sattva (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास; पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nom.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• परिगृह्य: having seized
• परिगृह्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pari-√grah (ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप् (absolutive); अव्यय

• विपुलाः: huge
• विपुलाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (विपुल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nom.), बहुवचन (pl.) (agreeing with śilāḥ)

• शिलाः: rocks
• शिलाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (शिला प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (acc.)/प्रथमा (nom.) बहुवचन; अत्र कर्मरूपेण (acc. implied with parigṛhya)

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-√viś (विश् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप् (absolutive); अव्यय

• अरिबलम्: the enemy force
• अरिबलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ari + bala (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (अरेः बलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• भीमम्: terrifying
• भीमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (भीम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (acc.), एकवचन (sg.) (agreeing with aribalam)

• जघ्नुः: slew, struck down
• जघ्नुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (हन् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (pl.), परस्मैपदम्

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nom.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• रजनीचरान्: night-rangers (rakshasas)
• रजनीचरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajanī + cara (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (रजन्यां चरन्ति); पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (acc.), बहुवचन (pl.)

Context

Having spoken like that by the king of Rakshasas, Mahodara entered the army of the enemy like a moth enters fire.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Rākṣasas (rajanīcaras)
• Rocks (śilāḥ)

FAQs

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

It portrays collective action in service of a righteous cause—standing together against terror and injustice, even with improvised means.

What is the narrative situation?

As Mahodara assaults the Vānara host, the Vānaras counterattack by rushing into the Rākṣasa ranks wielding boulders.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sāhasa (bold initiative) and steadfastness—resourceful courage under pressure.