Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 69, Shloka 80

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

विद्रुतांवाहिनींदृष्टवा स ददर्शनरान्तकम् ।गृहीतप्रासमायान्तंहयपृष्ठेप्रतिष्ठितम् ।।।।

Transliteration

vidrutāṃ vāhinīṃ dṛṣṭvā sa dadarśa narāntakam |

gṛhītaprāsam āyāntaṃ hayapṛṣṭhe pratiṣṭhitam ||6.69.80||

Translation

فلما رأى جنده يفرّون، أبصر نارانتَكا مقبلاً، والرمح في يده، ثابتًا على ظهر فرس.

Word by Word

• vidrutām: fleeing, scattered
• vidrutām: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√dru (द्रु, धातु) + क्त
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying vāhinīm

• vāhinīm: the army
• vāhinīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāhinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्, धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; pronoun

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्, धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• narāntakam: Narantaka
• narāntakam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narāntaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• gṛhīta-prāsam: holding a spear
• gṛhīta-prāsam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gṛhīta (√grah ग्रह् + क्त) + prāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-प्राय: gṛhītaḥ prāsaḥ yasya); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying narāntakam

• āyāntam: approaching
• āyāntam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√yā (या, धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying narāntakam

• haya-pṛṣṭhe: on the horse’s back
• haya-pṛṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक) + pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: hayasya pṛṣṭham); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• pratiṣṭhitam: seated, stationed
• pratiṣṭhitam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-√sthā (स्था, धातु) + क्त
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying narāntakam

Context

(Sugriva) saw the Vanaras troops running and Naranthaka seated on horseback advancing with a spear.

Characters & Entities

• Sugrīva
• Narāntaka
• Vanara army
• Spear (prāsa)
• Horse (haya)

FAQs

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

A dharmic leader identifies the true source of harm and responds directly, protecting the community rather than yielding to confusion or fear.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva observes the fleeing Vanaras and spots Narāntaka advancing on horseback with a spear.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sugrīva’s decisiveness and situational awareness in command.