Shloka 64

Duryodhana’s Śaraṇāgati and the Pāṇḍavas’ Resolve

Gandharva Encounter

Devanagari script

पर्वताक्ष शतघ्न्यक्ष प्रासासिपरिघा गदा: । निपतद्धिश्व तैघेरिदेवानीकं महायुधै:

Transliteration

parvatākṣa-śataghnīyakṣa-prāsāsi-parighā gadāḥ | nipatad dhiśva tais tīvrair devānīkaṁ mahāyudhaiḥ ||

Translation

摩罗迦ṇḍeya说道：“随后，凭借强大的兵器——如山石般的投掷物、沉重的棍棒、长矛、利剑、铁杖与钉头槌——诸天之军从四面八方遭到击打，凶猛的武器如暴雨倾泻而下。此景昭示：纵是正义之师，也会在压倒性的力量前受试炼；而在战场的混乱之中，唯有勇气与沉着方能支撑。”

Word by Word

पर्वताःmountains

अक्षाःaxles (or dice/eyes; here likely axles as missiles)

शतघ्न्यःsataghnī weapons (missiles/stone-balls)

प्रासाःspears

असयःswords

परिघाःiron clubs/bars

गदाःmaces

निपतत्falling down

दिशःthe directions

चand

तैःby those

घोरैःterrible

देवानीकम्the army/host of the gods

महायुधैःwith great weapons

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

devānīka (host of the gods)

weapons: śataghnī, prāsa, asi, parigha, gadā, parvatākṣa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores that in war—even when one’s cause is aligned with dharma—one must endure severe trials. Ethical steadiness is tested not by comfort but by the pressure of violent opposition, where courage and discipline become moral necessities.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes a fierce assault in which powerful weapons—spears, swords, maces, iron bars, and heavy missiles—rain down upon the army of the gods, striking them from all directions.