Shloka 17

युद्धकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Rāvaṇa’s Assault on Nīla and Lakṣmaṇa; Hanumān Bears Rāma

Devanagari script

योऽसौनवार्कोदितताम्रचक्षुरारुह्यघण्टानिनदप्रणादम् ।गजंखरंगर्जतिवैमहात्मामहोदरोनामसएषःवीरः ।।6.59.17।।

Transliteration

yo ’sau navārkodita-tāmra-cakṣur āruhya ghaṇṭā-ninada-praṇādam |

gajaṃ kharaṃ garjati vai mahātmā mahodaro nāma sa eṣa vīraḥ ||6.59.17||

Translation

Yaong may matang mapulang-tanso na wari’y bagong sikat ng araw, sumakay sa elepanteng ang pag-ungol ay tila tunog ng mga kampana; marahas siyang umuungal—ang dakilang mandirigmang ito ay si Mahodara.

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• asau: that (yonder)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nava-arka-udita-tāmra-cakṣuḥ: whose eyes are coppery like the newly risen sun
• nava-arka-udita-tāmra-cakṣuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava + arka + udita + tāmra + cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (नवार्कोदितवत् ताम्रे चक्षुषी यस्य)

• āruhya: having mounted
• āruhya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√ruh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय; धातुः रुह्; ‘having mounted’

• ghaṇṭā-ninada-praṇādam: bell-like resounding trumpeting
• ghaṇṭā-ninada-praṇādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṇṭā + ninada + praṇāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (घण्टानिनदः इव प्रणादः)

• gajam: elephant
• gajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kharam: harsh, fierce
• kharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गजम्)

• garjati: roars
• garjati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √garj (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• mahātmā: the great-souled one
• mahātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahodaraḥ: Mahodara
• mahodaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahodara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (name-indicator particle: ‘by name’)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vīraḥ: hero
• vīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to sa eṣa

Context

"He whose eyes are coppery red in anger, who rides on elephant resembles the beating of bells, roars in harsh tone are a great courageous one by the name Mahodara."

Characters & Entities

• Mahodara

FAQs

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

It highlights the spectacle of war and reminds that dharma is not noise or intimidation, but right action and restraint amid violence.

What is the narrative situation?

Mahodara is presented as he arrives mounted on an elephant, roaring and displaying martial ferocity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearlessness and aggressive confidence are emphasized, though the epic’s ethical frame evaluates such traits by their alignment with dharma.