Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

समुदग्रध्वजान्‌ दृष्टवा कपान्‌ सर्वे द्विजातय: । व्यसृजन्‌ ज्वलितानग्नीन्‌ कपानां प्राणनाशनान्‌

Transliteration

samudragadhvajān dṛṣṭvā kapān sarve dvijātayaḥ | vyasṛjan jvalitān agnīn kapānāṃ prāṇanāśanān |

Translation

Sinabi ni Bhishma: Nang makita ang mga unggoy na may matatayog na watawat, ang lahat ng “dalawang ulit na isinilang” (mga brahmana) ay nagbagsak ng naglalagablab na apoy—mga apoy na nakamamatay—upang lipulin ang buhay ng mga unggoy.

Word by Word

• समुदग्रध्वजान्: those having lofty/tall banners
• समुदग्रध्वजान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुदग्रध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• कपान्: monkeys
• कपान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• द्विजातयः: twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजातयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• व्यसृजन्: they hurled/let loose
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada, वि

• ज्वलितान्: blazing
• ज्वलितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अग्नीन्: fires
• अग्नीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कपानाम्: of the monkeys
• Type: Noun
• Root: कप
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• प्राणनाशनान्: life-destroying
• प्राणनाशनान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राणनाशन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• dvijātayaḥ (brāhmaṇas)
• kapa (monkeys)
• dhvaja (banners/flags)
• agni (fire)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic tension: those expected to embody restraint (dvijas/brāhmaṇas) can be provoked into lethal violence. It invites reflection on when force is considered justified and how anger or fear can eclipse ethical vows.

What is happening in the narrative?

After seeing the monkeys advancing with high banners, the dvijas respond by casting blazing, deadly fire at them, intending to kill or drive them off.