Mahápárśva

Family: Rákshases · Role: chieftain · First appears: Book VI, Canto 13 · Rávan’s Speech

In Book VI, Canto 36, Rávaṇ assigned Mahápárśva to aid Mahodar in defending the southern gate, while Rávaṇ took charge of the north. In Canto 68, Mahápárśva mourned his brother Kumbhakarṇa; in Canto 70, Hanumán killed him with his own mace, leaving him “Breathless and still.”

In Canto 96, Mahápárśva fought in a series of single combats against Sugríva and Angad alongside Virúpáksha and Mahodar. The translator’s summary says the giants fell one in each canto.

Relationship record

Life events

• Rávaṇ assigns his commanders to defend the city gates and takes charge of the north.(Book VI, Canto 36 · Rávan’s Reply)
  • With: Rávaṇ Prahasta Mahodar Indrajít Sáraṇ Śuka
  • “He bade the chief Prahasta wait, Commander at the eastern gate, To fierce Mahodar, strong and brave, To keep the southern gate, he gave, Where Mahápárśva’s might should aid The chieftain with his hosts arrayed. To guard the west—no chief more fit— He placed the warrior Indrajít, His son, the giant’s joy and boast, Surrounded by a Rákshas host: And mighty Sáraṇ hastened forth With Śuka to protect the north. ‘I will myself,’ the monarch cried, ‘Be present on the northern side.’”
• Hanúmán killed Mahápárśva with his own mace.(Book VI, Canto 70 · The Death Of Trisirás)
  • With: Hanumán
  • “His awful mace, and smote, and laid The giant in the dust dismayed. Crushed were his jaws and teeth and eyes: Breathless and still he lay as lies”
• Sugríva and Angad fight three single combats against the giants, who fall one in each canto.(Book VI, Canto 96 · Rávan’s Sally)
  • With: Sugríva Angad Virúpáksha Mahodar
  • “three single combats between Sugríva and Angad on the Vánar side and Virúpáksha, Mahodar, and Mahápárśva on the side of the giants. The weapons of the Vánars are trees and rocks; the giants fight with swords, axes, and bows and arrows. The details are generally the same as those of preceding duels. The giants fall, one in each Canto.”

Book VI, Canto 13 · Rávan’s Speech

• lord: Rávaṇ (Mahápárśva speaks to and advises the king.) “And humbly, eager to appease His anger, spoke in words like these:”
• with Rávaṇ (Mahápárśva speaks to appease Rávaṇ.) “And humbly, eager to appease His anger, spoke in words like these:”

Book VI, Canto 36 · Rávan’s Reply

• lord: Rávaṇ “Where Mahápárśva’s might should aid The chieftain with his hosts arrayed.”

Book VI, Canto 37 · Preparations

• lord: Rávaṇ “All these are chiefs whom Rávaṇ chose As mightiest to resist his foes;”

Book VI, Canto 68 · Rávan’s Lament

• siblings with Kumbhakarṇa “Mahodar, Mahápárśva shed Hot tears and mourned their brother dead.”

Book VI, Canto 70 · The Death Of Trisirás

• enemies with Hanumán “Hanúmán’s chest was wellnigh crushed, And from his mouth red torrents gushed: Yet served one instant to restore His spirit: from the foe he tore His awful mace, and smote, and laid The giant in the dust dismayed.”

Book VI, Canto 96 · Rávan’s Sally

• enemies with Sugríva “three single combats between Sugríva and Angad on the Vánar side and Virúpáksha, Mahodar, and Mahápárśva on the side of the giants.”
• enemies with Angad “three single combats between Sugríva and Angad on the Vánar side and Virúpáksha, Mahodar, and Mahápárśva on the side of the giants.”

Book VI, Canto 100 · Rávan In The Field

• enemies with Angad (The passage places Angad and Sugríva's fighting alongside the named warriors' deaths.) “Still Angad and Sugríva, wrought To fury, for the Vánars fought. Crushed with huge rocks through chest and side Mahodar, Mahápárśva died, And Virúpáksha stained with gore Dropped on the plain to rise no more.”
• enemies with Sugríva (The passage places Angad and Sugríva's fighting alongside the named warriors' deaths.) “Still Angad and Sugríva, wrought To fury, for the Vánars fought. Crushed with huge rocks through chest and side Mahodar, Mahápárśva died, And Virúpáksha stained with gore Dropped on the plain to rise no more.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Rámáyan of Válmíki. Made with Rho MD.