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Shloka 356

Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)

दैत्यदानववीराणां जघान नवतीर्नव । भरतनन्दन! ब्रह्मतेजसे प्रकट हुए उस वज्रको मन्त्रोच्चारणके साथ अत्यन्त क्रोधपूर्वक छोड़कर भगवान्‌ इन्द्रने आठ सौ दस दैत्य-दानव वीरोंका वध कर डाला

daityadānavavīrāṇāṃ jaghāna navatīr nava | bharatanandana! brahmatejase prakaṭaḥ sa vajraḥ mantroccāraṇena saha atyanta-krodhapūrvakaṃ tyaktvā bhagavān indraḥ aṣṭaśata-daśa daitya-dānava-vīrān vadhaṃ cakāra |

毗湿摩波耶那说:噢,婆罗多族的欢悦者!因陀罗以梵辉所显之金刚杵,伴随咒语诵持,在盛怒中猛然掷出,诛杀代底耶与檀那婆诸勇士:先九十九,又八百一十。此段昭示:纵然力量由神圣之力与仪式之言所加持,一旦由嗔怒驱使、在战场上放出,便带着沉重的伦理锋芒。

दैत्यof the Daityas
दैत्य:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदैत्य
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
दानवof the Danavas
दानव:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदानव
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
वीराणामof the heroes/warriors
वीराणाम:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवीर
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
जघानslew/killed
जघान:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular
नवतीःninety (persons)
नवतीः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनवति
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural
नवnine
नव:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनव
FormIndeclinable/Number, Accusative (used as numeral adjunct), Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
I
Indra
D
Daityas
D
Dānavas
V
Vajra (thunderbolt weapon)
B
Brahma-tejas
M
Mantra

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the moral tension in warfare: even divinely empowered action (brahma-tejas, mantra) becomes ethically fraught when propelled by krodha (wrath). Sacred power does not automatically sanctify violence; intention and emotional impulse remain central to dharmic evaluation.

Vaiśampāyana recounts Indra manifesting and hurling his vajra with mantra-recitation, and in that onslaught many Daitya and Dānava warriors are slain—first ninety-nine, then eight hundred and ten—emphasizing the devastating efficacy of the divine weapon.