Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 45

शरबन्धनम् (The Binding by Arrows) / Indrajit’s Illusory Assault and the Vanaras’ Consolation

Devanagari script

इन्द्रजित्तुमहामायःसर्वसैन्यसमावृतः ।।6.46.45।।विवेशनगरींलङ्कांपितरंचाभ्युपागमत् ।

Transliteration

indrajit tu mahāmāyaḥ sarva-sainya-samāvṛtaḥ | viveśa nagarīṃ laṅkāṃ pitaraṃ cābhyupāgamat ||

Translation

But Indrajit, wielder of great illusion, surrounded by all his forces, entered the city of Laṅkā and went to his father.

Word by Word

• इन्द्रजित्: Indrajit
• इन्द्रजित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रजित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: however/then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• महामायः: great magician
• महामायः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + माया (प्रातिपदिक); components: महा + माया
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्द्रजित् इत्यस्य विशेषण/उपाधि

• सर्वसैन्यसमावृतः: surrounded by the whole army
• सर्वसैन्यसमावृतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + सैन्य + समावृत (प्रातिपदिक); components: सर्व + सैन्य + समावृत (ppp of सम्-आ-√वृ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (instrumental sense: 'surrounded by all the army'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्द्रजित् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• विवेश: entered
• विवेश: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√विश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• नगरीम्: city
• नगरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लङ्काम्: Lanka
• लङ्काम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नगरीम् इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण-विशेषणम्

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अभ्युपागमत्: approached
• अभ्युपागमत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-उप-√गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

Context

Great Indrajith surrounded by all army entered the city of Lanka and approached his father.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Laṅkā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

The verse frames the moral contrast: reliance on māyā (deceptive power) stands opposed to dharma’s commitment to truth, even when it appears effective in war.

What is the narrative situation?

After his battlefield success, Indrajit returns to Laṅkā with his troops and goes to report to Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic capability (though ethically ambiguous here), highlighting Indrajit’s mastery of illusion as a narrative foil to dharmic conduct.