Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 38

इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः

Indrajit’s Brahmastra Rite and the Crushing of the Vanara Host

Devanagari script

स शरैस्सूर्यसङ्काशैश्शातकुम्भविभूषितैः ।वानरान् समरेवीरःप्रममाथसुदुर्जयः ।।।।

Transliteration

sa śaraiḥ sūryasaṅkāśaiḥ śātakumbha-vibhūṣitaiḥ |

vānarān samare vīraḥ pramamātha sudurjayaḥ ||

Translation

ذلك البطلُ العسيرُ القهرِ سحقَ جموعَ الفَنَرةِ في المعركةِ بسهامٍ متلألئةٍ كالشمسِ، مُزدانةٍ بالذهب.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण

• sūrya-saṅkāśaiḥ: sun-bright
• sūrya-saṅkāśaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः 'sun-like'; विशेषणम् (qualifies śaraiḥ)

• śātakumbha-vibhūṣitaiḥ: adorned with gold
• śātakumbha-vibhūṣitaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śātakumbha (प्रातिपदिक; 'gold') + vibhūṣita (कृदन्त; vi-√bhūṣ/भूष् 'to adorn')
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः 'adorned with gold'; विशेषणम् (qualifies śaraiḥ)

• vānarān: Vanaras
• vānarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्म

• samare: in battle
• samare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• vīraḥ: the hero
• vīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to saḥ

• pramamātha: crushed/overpowered
• pramamātha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√manth (धातु; 'to churn, crush, destroy')
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'crushed/overpowered'

• sudurjayaḥ: very difficult to conquer
• sudurjayaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + durjaya (प्रातिपदिक; dur-√ji 'hard to conquer')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः 'very hard-to-conquer'; qualifies saḥ/vīraḥ

Context

Hero Indrajith, who is difficult to conquer in battle, killed the Vanaras with sun like arrows decorated with gold.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Vanaras

FAQs

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

Power and brilliance are morally neutral; Dharma evaluates how such power is directed—toward protection or oppression.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit overwhelms the Vanaras with formidable, dazzling weaponry.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial prowess (tejas), presented as a force that must be governed by right intention.