Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 164
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
Devanagari script
जघान तारक चापि दैत्यमन्यांस्तथासुरान् । त्रिदशेन्द्राज्ञया ब्रहाँल्लोकानां हितकाम्यया
Transliteration
jaghāna tārakaṃ cāpi daityam anyāṃs tathāsurān | tridaśendrājñayā brahman lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā ||
Translation
婆悉吒说道：“奉因陀罗——诸天之主——之命，又以护佑诸世界之安宁为念，他诛灭了塔罗迦，并斩杀其他提提耶与阿修罗，婆罗门啊。”
Word by Word
जघानslew/killed
जघान:
TypeVerb
Rootहन् (धातु)
Formलिट् (परस्मैपद, परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथम, एकवचन
तारकम्Tāraka (the demon)
तारकम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतारक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
अपिalso/even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
दैत्यम्the Daitya (demon)
दैत्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
अन्यान्other
अन्यान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
तथाlikewise/also
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
असुरान्Asuras (demons)
असुरान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअसुर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
त्रिदशेन्द्राज्ञयाby the command of the lord of the gods (Indra)
त्रिदशेन्द्राज्ञया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootत्रिदशेन्द्र-आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
ब्रह्मलोकानाम्of the Brahma-worlds / Brahma-realms
ब्रह्मलोकानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन
हितकाम्ययाwith the desire for welfare (of beings)
हितकाम्यया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootहितकाम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
Speaker
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VasiṣṭhaI
Indra (Tridaśendra)T
Tāraka (Tārakāsura)D
DaityasA
AsurasL
Lokas (the worlds)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Violence is framed as dharmic only when it is undertaken under legitimate authority and for the protection and welfare of the worlds, not from personal hatred or gain.
Vasiṣṭha recounts that, acting on Indra’s command and intending the good of all beings, a divine champion slew the demon Tāraka along with other Daityas and Asuras.