Shloka 35

Yuddha-yajña-vyākhyāna (The Battle as Sacrifice): Ambarīṣa–Indra Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

ऋष्टिखड्गमहानौका गृध्रकड्कबलप्लवा । पुरुषादानुचरिता भीरूणां कश्मलावहा

Transliteration

ṛṣṭikhaḍgamahānaukā gṛdhrakaḍkabalaplavā | puruṣādānucaritā bhīrūṇāṁ kaśmalāvahā ||

Translation

Wika ni Ambarīṣa: “Ang dakilang ‘bangka’ na ito ay yari sa mga sibat at espada, at ang mga balsang karga nito’y hinubog mula sa malulupit na batalyong gaya ng buwitre. Pinapatnubayan ito ng mga alagad na kumakain ng tao, at nagdadala ng pagkalito at pangambang moral sa mga duwag.”

Word by Word

• ऋष्टिखड्गमहानौका: she whose great boat is spear-and-sword (i.e., armed with spear and sword as her great vessel)
• ऋष्टिखड्गमहानौका: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋष्टि-खड्ग-महा-नौका
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• गृध्रकङ्कबलप्लवा: she whose raft/float is the strength of vultures and herons (i.e., supported by vulture-and-kanka forces)
• गृध्रकङ्कबलप्लवा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र-कङ्क-बल-प्लवा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• पुरुषादानुचरिता: followed by man-seizing (i.e., attended by those who seize men)
• पुरुषादानुचरिता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुष-आदान-अनुचरित
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• भीरूणाम्: of the timid/cowardly
• भीरूणाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीरु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• कश्मलावहा: bringing delusion/distress
• कश्मलावहा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कश्मल-आहृ (वह)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

अम्बरीष उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Ambarīṣa
• spears (ṛṣṭi)
• swords (khaḍga)
• boat (naukā)
• vultures (gṛdhra)
• army/forces (bala)
• man-eaters (puruṣāda)
• the timid (bhīru)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse warns that a path driven by weapons, predatory forces, and cruel followers generates kaśmala—inner confusion and ethical collapse—especially in those who lack steadiness; it cautions against being carried along by violent, fear-inducing power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ambarīṣa speaks in a vivid metaphor, describing a terrifying ‘boat’ of warfare—built from spears and swords and supported by fierce troops—guided by savage attendants, emphasizing how such an environment overwhelms and destabilizes the fearful.