Shloka 37

कुमाराभिषेकप्रश्नः — Inquiry into Kumāra (Skanda) Investiture at Sarasvatī

Devanagari script

तच्छिरो नमुचेश्छिन्नं पृष्ठठ: शक्रमन्वियात्‌

Transliteration

tacchiro namuceś chinnaṃ pṛṣṭhataḥ śakram anviyāt

Translation

毗舍波耶那说道：那牟支的头颅既被斩落，竟自后追逐释迦罗——凶兆般的余波，昭示纵然一击得胜，亦可能留下道义与心灵上挥之不去的阴影。

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: tad
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• namuceḥ: of Namuci
• namuceḥ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: namuci
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• chinnam: cut off, severed
• chinnam: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: chid
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular, past passive participle (kta)

• pṛṣṭhataḥ: from behind
• pṛṣṭhataḥ: Apadana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛṣṭha
• Form: ablatival adverb (tas)

• śakram: Śakra (Indra)
• śakram: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• anviyāt: would follow / should follow
• anviyāt: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√yā
• Form: optative (vidhi-liṅ), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Namuci
• Śakra (Indra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse suggests that violent acts can generate consequences that persist beyond the moment of apparent victory—symbolized by the severed head still pursuing the victor—inviting reflection on responsibility, retribution, and the lingering effects of harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, Namuci’s head has been cut off, yet it continues to follow Indra (Śakra) from behind, presenting a supernatural pursuit that underscores the grim, uncanny aftermath of conflict.