Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 28

इन्द्रजित्-वधः

The Slaying of Indrajit

Devanagari script

तानप्राप्तान् शितैर्भाणैश्चिच्छेदपरवीरहा ।सारथेरस्य च रणेरथिवोरघुसत्तमः ।।।।शिरोजहारधर्मात्माभल्लेनानतपर्वणा ।

Transliteration

tān aprāptān śitair bhāṇaiś ciccheda paravīrahā | sārather asya ca raṇe rathino raghusattamaḥ | śiro jahāra dharmātmā bhallena ānataparvaṇā ||

Translation

وقبل أن تبلغ تلك السهام، قطعها لاكشمانا قاهرُ أبطالِ الأعداء بسهامٍ حادّة؛ ثم في ساحة القتال، ذلك البارّ، أفضلُ آلِ راغهو، جزَّ رأسَ سائسِ عربةِ ذلك المقاتل بسهمٍ من نوع «بهلّا» عريضِ النصل، مستقيمِ الوصلات غيرِ منثنٍ.

Word by Word

• सूताः: charioteers
• सूताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; refers to sūtāḥ/hayāḥ contextually

• हयाः: horses
• हयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ऊहुः: drove, carried
• ऊहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural; parasmaipada; 'carried/drove'

• अविक्लबाः: unperplexed
• अविक्लबाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-viklaba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies sūtāḥ/hayāḥ: 'unconfused, steady'

• मण्डलानि: circles
• मण्डलानि: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural; used adverbially: 'in circles'

• अभिधावन्तः: rushing/moving forward
• अभिधावन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√dhāv (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with sūtāḥ/hayāḥ

• तत्: that (sight)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful
• अद्भुतम्: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, comparison particle

• अभवत्: was, became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular

Context

Heroic enemy, the righteous Lakshmana, tore the head of the car-warrior as well as the charioteer in the battle with bhala (spear), even before Indrajith discharged pointed arrows at him.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Indrajit (implied chariot-warrior)
• Charioteer
• Bhalla (broad-headed arrow)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as protective mastery: skill is used to neutralize harm (cutting down incoming arrows) and to decisively disable the opponent’s war-capability.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa intercepts the incoming arrows mid-flight and then kills the charioteer with a bhalla, disrupting the enemy chariot’s functioning.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and precision—swift judgment joined to effective action.