Shloka 23

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

त्रिशिरारथमास्थायविरराजधनुर्धरः ।सविद्युदुल्कश्शैलाग्रेस्सेन्द्रइवाम्बुदः ।।।।

Transliteration

triśirā ratham āsthāya virarāja dhanurdharaḥ |

sa-vidyud-ulkaḥ śailāgre sendra ivāmbudaḥ ||

Translation

রথে অধিষ্ঠিত ধনুর্ধর ত্রিশিরা উজ্জ্বল হয়ে উঠলেন—যেন পর্বতশিখরে বিদ্যুৎ ও উল্কায় ভরা মেঘ, যার অন্তরে ইন্দ্র বিরাজমান।

Word by Word

• त्रिशिराः: Trishira
• त्रिशिराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘आस्थाय’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आस्थाय: having mounted
• आस्थाय: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+√स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• विरराज: shone brilliantly
• विरराज: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+√राज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धनुर्धरः: bow-bearer
• धनुर्धरः: समानााधिकरण (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् + धर (प्रातिपदिक; √धृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (धनुः धरति)

• सविद्युदुल्कः: with lightning and meteors
• सविद्युदुल्कः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + विद्युत् + उल्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (विद्युत्-उल्काभ्यां सहितः) qualifying ‘अम्बुदः’ (cloud)

• शैलाग्रे: on a mountain peak
• शैलाग्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शैलस्य अग्रे)

• सेन्द्रः: with Indra
• सेन्द्रः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (इन्द्रेण सहितः) qualifying implied ‘अम्बुदः’

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• अम्बुदः: a cloud
• अम्बुदः: उपमेय (Upameya; predicate simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपमेय (thing compared)

Context

Wielding a bow and sitting like a leader in the chariot Trisira shone as if attended by lightning, meteors, light, and rainbows.

Characters & Entities

• Triśiras
• Indra
• Mountain peak (śailāgra)
• Lightning (vidyut)
• Meteors (ulka)

FAQs

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

The verse uses awe-inspiring imagery to depict power; ethically, the Ramayana warns that such tejas, if aligned to adharma, becomes destructive and short-lived.

What is the narrative situation?

Triśiras is portrayed at the moment of battle-readiness, radiating a terrifying grandeur.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tejas and śaurya (battle splendor and valor), expressed through poetic simile.