Shloka 36

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

मरणंवापिनिश्चित्यशत्रूणांवापराजयम् ।।।।इतिकृत्वामतिंवीरानिर्जग्मुस्संयुगार्थिनः ।

Transliteration

maraṇaṃ vāpi niścitya śatrūṇāṃ vā parājayam |

iti kṛtvā matiṃ vīrā nirjagmuḥ saṃyugārthinaḥ ||

Translation

یا تو موت کو یقینی جان کر، یا دشمنوں کی شکست کو—یوں ارادہ باندھ کر وہ بہادر جنگ کے طالب بن کر نکل پڑے۔

Word by Word

• maraṇam: death
• maraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or/even if
• vā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध-बोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• api: also/even
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (समुच्चय/अपि-कारक)

• niścitya: having decided
• niścitya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni+ści (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), avyaya-kṛdanta; 'having determined'

• śatrūṇām: of enemies
• śatrūṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी) Plural (बहुवचन)

• vā: or/even if
• vā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध-बोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• parājayam: defeat
• parājayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parājaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), avyaya-kṛdanta; 'having made/done'

• matim: resolve/intention
• matim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• vīrāḥ: heroes
• vīrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन)

• nirjagmuḥ: went out
• nirjagmuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir+gam (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada; 'went forth'

• saṃyugārthinaḥ: seeking battle
• saṃyugārthinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃyuga (प्रातिपदिक) + arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (चतुर्थी/अर्थे: 'for battle'); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

Those heroes determined to defeat the enemy even if it meant death and went thinking for the combat.

Characters & Entities

• Śatrū (enemies)
• Saṃyuga (battle)

FAQs

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

It reflects kṣātra-dharma: unwavering resolve in the face of mortal risk—choosing duty and decisive action over fear, while accepting the consequences (death or victory).

What is the narrative situation?

The warriors set their minds firmly before combat and advance, fully accepting the two outcomes that war entails.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dhṛti (steadfastness) and utsāha (courageous initiative) grounded in deliberate resolve.