Shloka 11

दूषणवधः

The Slaying of Dūṣaṇa and the Rout of Khara’s Host

Devanagari script

स च्छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः।।3.26.9।।जग्राह गिरिशृङ्गाभं परिघं रोमहर्षणम्।वेष्टितं काञ्चनैः पट्टैर्देवसैन्यप्रमर्दनम्।।3.26.10।।आयसैश्शङ्कुभिस्तीक्ष्णैः कीर्णं परवसोक्षितम्।वज्राशनिसमस्पर्शं परगोपुरदारणम्।।3.26.11।।

Transliteration

sa cchinna-dhanvā viratho hatāśvo hata-sārathiḥ | jagrāha giriśṛṅgābhaṃ parighaṃ romaharṣaṇam |

veṣṭitaṃ kāñcanaiḥ paṭṭair deva-sainya-pramardanam |

āyasaiḥ śaṅkubhis tīkṣṇaiḥ kīrṇaṃ paravaso-kṣitam |

vajrāśani-sama-sparśaṃ para-gopura-dāraṇam ||

Translation

弓已被斩断，战车失用，战马与御者皆被杀，杜沙那便抓起一根令人毛骨悚然的铁杵，形如山峰；以金带缠束，布满锋利铁刺，仿佛涂抹了敌人的髓血；其触感如雷霆金刚，足以击碎敌军城门与门楼高塔。

Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• abhipatamānasya: of (him) rushing forward
• abhipatamānasya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-pat (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रायः), षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; √pat with उपसर्ग ‘abhi-’; ‘of (one) rushing/pouncing’

• dūṣaṇasya: of Dūṣaṇa
• dūṣaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• rāghavaḥ: Rāghava (Rāma)
• rāghavaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular; epithet of Rāma)

• dvābhyām: with two
• dvābhyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Instrumental dual)

• śarābhyām: with two arrows
• śarābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Instrumental dual)

• ciccheda: cut off
• ciccheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; √chid (to cut)

• sa-hasta-ābharaṇau: together with the armlets
• sa-hasta-ābharaṇau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-प्राय) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक) + ābharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, द्विवचन; बहुव्रीहि: हस्ताभरणैः सहितौ (together with hand-ornaments/armlets)

• bhujau: (two) arms
• bhujau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Accusative dual)

Context

With his bow and chariot broken, charioteer and horses killed, Dusana took up a spear in his hand that appeared like a huge mountain top. Bound by golden bands, covered the iron nails, wetted with the enemy's marrow it created a horripilation. It appeared as though it could crush the army of gods and render the enemy powerless. It carried the killing touch of the thunderbolt and could break open the enemy's fort.

Characters & Entities

• Dūṣaṇa
• Rāma
• Parigha (iron club/bar)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse warns how adharma escalates: when checked, the aggressor intensifies brutality rather than repenting—contrasting with dharma’s ideal of restraint and accountability.

What is the narrative situation?

Disarmed and immobilized, Dūṣaṇa shifts tactics and arms himself with a massive spiked iron club to continue the fight at close quarters.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s implied steadfast protection-role is the backdrop; Dūṣaṇa’s trait highlighted is obstinate aggression—persistence without righteousness.