Shloka 17

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

आर्तस्वनंचस्वनतांसिंहनादंचनर्दताम् ।।।।बभूवतुमुलश्शब्दोहरीणांरक्षसांयुधि ।

Transliteration

ārtasvanaṃ ca svanatāṃ siṃhanādaṃ ca nardatām | babhūva tumulaḥ śabdo harīṇāṃ rakṣasāṃ yudhi ||

Translation

Sa digmaang yaon, umalingawngaw ang magulong sigaw—daing ng mga sugatan, nag-uunahang hiyawan, at mga ungol na tila leon—mula sa mga Vānara at mga Rākṣasa.

Word by Word

• आर्त-स्वनम्: cries of pain
• आर्त-स्वनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Content)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārta (प्रातिपदिक) + svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: आर्तानां स्वनः (cry of the distressed)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• स्वनताम्: of the clamouring (ones)
• स्वनताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svanat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: शतृ-प्रातिपदिक (present participle used as noun), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; स्वनताम् = 'of those making noise'

• सिंह-नादम्: lion-roar
• सिंह-नादम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Content)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: सिंहस्य नादः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• नर्दताम्: of the roaring (ones)
• नर्दताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nardat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: शतृ-प्रातिपदिक (present participle used as noun), षष्ठी, बहुवचन; 'of those roaring'

• बभूव: arose/was
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तुमुलः: tumultuous
• तुमुलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tumula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शब्दः इति विशेषण

• शब्दः: sound
• शब्दः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हरीणाम्: of the monkeys
• हरीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• रक्षसाम्: of the Rakshasas
• रक्षसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yudh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Context

Tumultuous noise like the roar of lions arose in the battlefield with Vanaras and Rakshasas cries of pain.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras (harīṇām)
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

By foregrounding anguish and chaos, the verse reminds that war—even when undertaken for dharma—produces suffering; therefore dharma requires sobriety, restraint, and a truthful recognition of war’s cost.

What is the narrative situation?

The battlefield becomes deafening with mixed sounds: pain, shouting, and roaring from both armies.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage under extreme fear and pain; perseverance in the face of chaos.