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Shloka 36

प्रहस्तवधः

The Slaying of Prahasta

उद्धूतइववायुःखेमहदभ्रबलंबलात् ।।6.58.35।।समीक्ष्याभिद्रुतंयुद्धेप्रहस्तोवाहिनीपतिः ।रथेनादित्यवर्णेननीलमेवाभिदुद्रुवे ।।6.58.36।।

uddhūta iva vāyuḥ khe mahad-abhrabalaṃ balāt |

samīkṣyābhidrutaṃ yuddhe prahasto vāhinīpatiḥ |

rathenāditya-varṇena nīlam evābhidudruve ||6.58.35-36||

如同苍穹中的狂风以强力驱散厚重云团,军队统帅普罗诃斯塔见尼罗在战中疾冲而来,便乘着如日辉耀的战车,直扑尼罗。

samīkṣyahaving observed
samīkṣya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-īkṣ (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund, ल्यप्), अव्ययभावेन क्रियाविशेषणम्; धातु: सम्+ईक्ष् (to observe)
abhidrutamthe one rushing/advancing (him)
abhidrutam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootabhi-dru (धातु)
Formकर्मणि क्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘अभिद्रुत’ = rushed/advanced
yuddhein battle
yuddhe:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootyuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative
prahastaḥPrahastha
prahastaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootprahasta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Proper noun
vāhinīpatiḥcommander of the army
vāhinīpatiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvāhinī (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative): ‘vāhinīyāḥ patiḥ’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
rathenaby/with a chariot
rathena:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootratha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental
ādityavarṇenasun-colored, radiant like the sun
ādityavarṇena:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootāditya (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘ādityasya varṇaḥ’ (sun-like color); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; agrees with ‘rathena’
nīlamNīla
nīlam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootnīla (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Proper noun
evaindeed/just
eva:
Sambandha/Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/restriction
abhidudruverushed towards
abhidudruve:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootabhi-dru (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन; धातु: द्रु (to run) with उपसर्ग ‘अभि’

Prahastha, the commander of the army darted, just as the violent wind blows away mass of clouds, observing Nila coming towards him, in his chariot which was bright as the sun.

P
Prahasta
N
Nīla

FAQs

The verse shows the battlefield ethic of direct confrontation: leaders meet leaders. In Ramāyaṇa’s moral universe, power should be exercised openly (not through treachery), and responsibility rests especially on commanders who shape the fate of many.

Prahasta notices Nīla advancing and immediately charges him, likened to wind scattering clouds.

Martial boldness and initiative—swift decisive action typical of a battlefield commander (though not necessarily implying moral righteousness of his cause).