Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 26
Devanagari script
नाशकत् तानि मघवा जेतु सर्वायुधैरपि । अथ सर्वेडमरा रुद्रं जग्मु: शरणमर्दिता:
Transliteration
nāśakat tāni maghavā jetuṁ sarvāyudhair api | atha sarve ’marā rudraṁ jagmuḥ śaraṇam arditāḥ ||
Translation
摩伽婆（因陀罗）纵使动用一切兵器，也不能征服那些城池。于是诸天尽皆困厄受迫，前往鲁陀罗处求取庇护。
Word by Word
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
अशकत्was not able
अशकत्:
TypeVerb
Rootशक्
Formलङ् (imperfect), 3, singular, परस्मैपद
तानिthose (things/fortresses)
तानि:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formneuter, accusative, plural
मघवाMaghavan (Indra)
मघवा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमघवन्
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
जेतुम्to conquer
जेतुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootजि
Formtumun (infinitive)
सर्वwith all
सर्व:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
Formneuter, instrumental, plural
आयुधैःweapons
आयुधैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootआयुध
Formneuter, instrumental, plural
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
अथthen
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
सर्वेall
सर्वे:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
अमराःimmortals (gods)
अमराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअमर
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
रुद्रम्Rudra
रुद्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरुद्र
Formmasculine, accusative, singular
जग्मुःwent
जग्मुः:
TypeVerb
Rootगम्
Formलिट् (perfect), 3, plural, परस्मैपद
शरणम्refuge
शरणम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशरण
Formneuter, accusative, singular
अर्दिताःafflicted/tormented
अर्दिताः:
TypeAdjective
Rootअर्दित
Formक्त (past passive participle), masculine, nominative, plural
Speaker
वायुदेव उवाच
Characters & Entities
M
Maghavā (Indra)A
Amarāḥ (the gods/devas)R
Rudra (Śiva)T
tāni purāṇi (those cities/fortresses)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Mere force and weaponry do not guarantee success; when one’s capacity is exceeded, the dharmic response is to acknowledge limitation, seek proper refuge, and align with higher protection rather than persist in pride.
Indra cannot defeat certain fortified cities despite using all weapons. The gods, suffering from this failure, approach Rudra (Śiva) for shelter and assistance, marking a shift from martial effort to supplication and reliance on Rudra’s power.