Shloka 19

अध्याय २७०: प्रहस्त-वधः, धूम्राक्ष-हननं, कुम्भकर्ण-प्रबोधनम्

Chapter 270: Slaying of Prahasta; Defeat of Dhūmrākṣa; Awakening of Kumbhakarṇa

Devanagari script

गृहल्लीत चापानि महाधनानि शरांश्व शीघ्र पदवीं चरध्वम्‌ । पुरा हि निर्भत्सनदण्डमोहिता प्रमोहचित्ता वदनेन शुष्यता

Transliteration

gṛhṇīta cāpāni mahādhanāni śarāṃś ca śīghra-padavīṃ caradhvam | purā hi nirbhatsana-daṇḍa-mohitā pramoha-cittā vadanena śuṣyatā ||

Translation

毗舍摩波耶那说道：“拿起你们强大的弓与箭，沿着行进之路迅疾前进。因为先前你们被威吓与刑罚所迷惑，心神纷乱，口舌干涸。”

Word by Word

• गृहल्लीत: house-lizards (geckos)
• गृहल्लीत: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहल्लि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• चापानि: bows
• चापानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• महाधनानि: great treasures/wealth
• महाधनानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• शीघ्र: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्रयोग)

• पदवीं: path/track/way
• पदवीं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• चरध्वम्: go/move/walk
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: Imperative, Second, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पुरा: formerly/before
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• निर्भत्सनदण्डमोहिता: bewildered by the punishment of rebuke/threat
• निर्भत्सनदण्डमोहिता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भत्सन-दण्ड-मोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रमोहचित्ता: having a deluded mind
• प्रमोहचित्ता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमोह-चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• वदनेन: with/by the mouth/face
• वदनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शुष्यता: dryness/parchedness
• शुष्यता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुष्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• bows (cāpa)
• arrows (śara)
• punishment/coercion (daṇḍa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts paralysis born of intimidation with the need for decisive action: when fear and coercion cloud the mind, one becomes physically and mentally incapacitated; dharmic resolve requires regaining composure and acting swiftly in one’s duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates a moment of command and mobilization: warriors are urged to seize their weapons and advance quickly, with a reminder that earlier they had been shaken by threats and punishment, leading to confusion and speechless dryness—signs of fear—now to be overcome.