Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 30

युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्

Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault

Devanagari script

अङ्गदाभिहतास्तत्रराक्षसाभीमविक्रमाः ।विभिन्नशिरसःपेतुर्विकृताइवपादपाः ।।।।

Transliteration

aṅgadābhihatās tatra rākṣasā bhīma-vikramāḥ |

vibhinna-śirasaḥ petur vikṛtā iva pādapāḥ ||

Translation

هناك سقط الرّاكشاسا ذوو البأس المهيب، وقد صرعهم أنغادا، برؤوسٍ مهشّمة، كالأشجار المقطوعة المشوّهة.

Word by Word

• अङ्गदाभिहताः: struck by Angada
• अङ्गदाभिहताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्गद + अभि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘by Angada struck’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• राक्षसाः: Rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भीमविक्रमाः: of dreadful valor
• भीमविक्रमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (bhīmaḥ vikramaḥ yeṣām)

• विभिन्नशिरसः: with split heads
• विभिन्नशिरसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभिन्न + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘विभिन्नानि शिरांसि येषाम्’ (whose heads were split)

• पेतुः: fell
• पेतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम

• विकृताः: mangled
• विकृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘mangled/distorted’ (qualifying implied subject)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• पादपाः: trees
• पादपाः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

Context

The battlefield with strewn armlets, necklaces and clothes, weapons looked like autumnal night decorated all over.

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgada
• Rākṣasas
• Trees (simile)

FAQs

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

It reflects the Ramayana’s moral arc that unrighteous violence ultimately collapses; even “fearsome” power (bhīma-vikrama) cannot endure when opposed by a dharmic alliance.

What is the narrative situation?

Aṅgada’s assault breaks the rākṣasa fighters; many fall dead or incapacitated on the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Unstoppable strength joined with purpose—Aṅgada’s effective might in combat.