Shloka 51

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

Devanagari script

ततःशोणितदिग्धाङ्गःप्रगृह्यसुमहातरुम् ।प्रहस्तस्योरसिक्रुद्धोविससर्जमहाकपिः ।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śoṇita-digdhāṅgaḥ pragṛhya su-mahā-tarum |

prahastasya urasi kruddho visasarja mahākapiḥ ||6.58.51||

Translation

Pagkaraan, ang dakilang Vānara, ang katawan ay nababalutan ng dugo, sa poot ay dinampot ang isang napakalaking punò at inihagis iyon sa dibdib ni Prahasta.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); अर्थे: अनन्तरम् (then/thereafter)

• शोणित-दिग्ध-अङ्गः: having limbs smeared with blood
• शोणित-दिग्ध-अङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoṇita (प्रातिपदिक) + digdha (कृदन्त, √dih लेपने) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (one whose limbs are smeared with blood)

• प्रगृह्य: having seized
• प्रगृह्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seized/taken up)

• सु-महा-तरुम्: a very huge tree
• सु-महा-तरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + taru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (su+mahā as intensifier); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रहस्तस्य: of Prahasta
• प्रहस्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (genitive)

• उरसि: on the chest
• उरसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (locative)

• क्रुद्धः: enraged
• क्रुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kruddha (कृदन्त, √krudh क्रोधे)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विससर्ज: hurled/let fly
• विससर्ज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• महाकपिः: the great monkey
• महाकपिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Context

Then drenched with blood, Neela was enraged and took hold of a huge tree and hurled at the chest of Prahastha.

Characters & Entities

• Nīla
• Prahasta
• tree (taru)

FAQs

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

The verse shows the tension between krodha (anger) and dharma: righteous battle demands courage, but anger must be harnessed toward protection of the just cause rather than cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

Wounded by Prahasta, Nīla retaliates by uprooting/grasping a huge tree and throwing it at Prahasta’s chest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śaurya (heroic force) and pratīkāra (active resistance) are emphasized—Nīla answers injury with decisive action.