Shloka 57
Instruction to Śatrughna and the Mobilization for Rāma’s Aśvamedha
ये योद्धारः प्रतिरणगतास्ते त्वया वारणीया । वाहं रक्ष स्वकगुणगणैः संयुतः सन्महोर्व्याम् । सुप्तान्भ्रष्टान्विगतवसनान्भीतभीतांस्तु नम्रां । स्तान्मा हन्याः सुकृतकृतिनो येन शंसंति कर्म
ye yoddhāraḥ pratiraṇagatāste tvayā vāraṇīyā | vāhaṃ rakṣa svakaguṇagaṇaiḥ saṃyutaḥ sanmahorvyām | suptānbhraṣṭānvigatavasanānbhītabhītāṃstu namrāṃ | stānmā hanyāḥ sukṛtakṛtino yena śaṃsaṃti karma
«أمّا المحاربون الذين اندفعوا إلى صميم المعركة، فعليك أن تردّهم. واحفظ مركبي، مقرونًا بجماعة فضائلك أنت، أيها النبيل على هذه الأرض العظيمة. وأمّا النائمون، والساقطون، والمجرَّدون من ثيابهم، والمرتعدون خوفًا، والمتواضعون المنحنون—فلا تضربهم؛ فهم أصحابُ عملٍ صالح، وبذلك تُحمد أفعالهم».
Unspecified (context not provided; verse reads as a direct injunction in a battle setting)
Concept: Dharma in war requires protection of the helpless and restraint toward the surrendered; merit (sukṛta) is preserved by compassion even amid violence.
Application: Do not exploit others’ vulnerability—whether in arguments, competition, or power dynamics; protect dependents and assets responsibly; pause before ‘striking’ when someone is already down.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A tense battlefield pauses as a noble commander raises his hand in restraint, ordering his warrior to hold back. In the foreground lie the vulnerable—sleeping, fallen, and trembling—while the righteous hero shields them, turning the chaos of war into a tableau of compassion.","primary_figures":["Śatrughna (implied royal warrior)","a senior counselor/elder (speaker figure)","frightened soldiers seeking mercy","a noble mount (horse) being protected"],"setting":"Open battlefield on the ‘great earth’ with scattered chariots, broken standards, and a protective circle formed around the helpless; distant dust clouds and muted war drums.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["iron gray","dust ochre","crimson banner-red","sandalwood beige","twilight indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a righteous prince-warrior halting the strike mid-battle, palm raised in command, protecting fallen and trembling foes; ornate gold leaf on armor edges and royal ornaments, rich vermilion and emerald textiles, gem-studded belt, stylized horse with gilded harness; background with simplified battlefield motifs and a dharma-emblem (chakra-like halo) subtly behind the hero.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate brushwork showing a compassionate warrior restraining his troops; cool, airy palette with dusty plains, fine facial expressions of fear and humility among the surrendered; small details—broken chariot wheel, fluttering pennant, soft horizon haze; lyrical naturalism emphasizing moral drama over gore.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, heroic figure with large expressive eyes and calm yet commanding gesture; fallen soldiers rendered with restrained pathos; natural pigment palette—deep reds, mustard yellow, leaf green; temple-wall aesthetic where dharma is visualized as a luminous aura around the protector.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: transform the battlefield into a symbolic dharma-mandala—central noble protector with lotus motifs underfoot, floral borders framing scenes of surrender and mercy; deep blues and gold accents; peacocks at the border as emblems of vigilance; subtle Vaishnava symbols (chakra, shankha) woven into textile patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["distant war drums","conch shell","wind over dust","brief silence at the command","horse snort"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रतिरणगताः+ते → प्रतिरणगतास्ते; सुप्तान्+भ्रष्टान्+विगतवसनान्+भीतभीतान्+तु+नम्रान् (अनुस्वार/नकार-सन्धि); तान्+मा → तान्मा; हन्याः (विधिलिङ्) used with मा as prohibition.
FAQs
It instructs that only active combatants in the battle should be engaged, while the sleeping, fallen, unclothed/unarmed, terrified, or submissive should not be struck—an expression of yuddha-nīti (ethical conduct in war).
Those asleep, those who have fallen, those without clothing (implying helplessness), those frightened and trembling, and those who are humble/submissive are all singled out as not to be harmed.
It frames restraint as aligned with merit: such persons are called sukṛta-kṛtin (doers of good), and their conduct is said to be praised through their deeds—supporting the idea that dharmic restraint is itself commendable action.