Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 22

इन्द्रजित्-वधः

The Slaying of Indrajit

Devanagari script

सःलक्ष्मणंसमुद्धिश्यपरंलाघवमाश्रितः ।।।।ववर्षशरवर्षाणिवर्षाणीवपुरन्दरः ।

Transliteration

saḥ lakṣmaṇaṃ samuddiśya paraṃ lāghavam āśritaḥ | vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi varṣāṇīva purandaraḥ ||

Translation

Fixing Lakṣmaṇa as his target and relying on swift, effortless speed, he poured down showers of arrows—like Purandara (Indra) sending down rain-clouds.

Word by Word

• सः: he (Indrajit)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun/सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• लक्ष्मणम्: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• समुद्धिश्य: having aimed at
• समुद्धिश्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ud-diś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √diś with prefixes sam+ud; indeclinable verbal form; sense: 'having aimed/targeted'

• परम्: very, exceedingly
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially with lāghavam

• लाघवम्: swiftness, lightness (of action)
• लाघवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• आश्रितः: having resorted to, possessed
• आश्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śri (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with saḥ; sense: 'having resorted to/possessing'

• ववर्ष: rained, showered
• ववर्ष: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• शरवर्षाणि: showers of arrows
• शरवर्षाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara+varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: śara-varṣa = 'rain of arrows'; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• वर्षाणि: rains
• वर्षाणि: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); used in simile with iva

• इव: like, as
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable/अव्यय), particle of comparison (उपमावाचक-निपात)

• पुरन्दरः: Purandara (Indra)
• पुरन्दरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purandara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); epithet of Indra

Context

Indrajith, aiming at Lakshmana, let loose rain of arrows easily like rain.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Purandara (Indra)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as disciplined exertion of skill in one’s role: a warrior applies trained ability (lāghava) toward the chosen objective in battle.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit concentrates his attack on Lakṣmaṇa and unleashes a dense barrage of arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial skill and speed (lāghava), showing mastery over weapons and technique.