Shloka 42

इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः

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

Devanagari script

रामस्यार्थेपराक्रम्यवानरास्त्यक्तजीविताः ।नर्दन्तस्तेऽभिवृत्तास्तुसमरेसशिलायुधाः ।।।।

Transliteration

rāmasyārthe parākramya vānarās tyaktajīvitāḥ |

nardantas te 'bhivṛttās tu samare saśilāyudhāḥ ||

Translation

রামের কার্যে পরাক্রম করে, প্রাণ ত্যাগের সংকল্পে সেই বানরগণ শিলা-অস্ত্র হাতে গর্জন করতে করতে সমরে অগ্রসর হল, পশ্চাদপসরণ করল না।

Word by Word

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (सम्बन्ध), एकवचनम्

• अर्थे: for the cause
• अर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण/विषय), एकवचनम्; ‘for the sake/cause’

• पराक्रम्य: having exerted themselves
• पराक्रम्य: Kriya-purvaka (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: parā-√kram (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव-रूप कृदन्तम् (gerund/absolutive): ‘having exerted/after showing valor’

• वानराः: Vanaras
• वानराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• त्यक्तजीविताः: having abandoned life (ready to die)
• त्यक्तजीविताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyakta (कृदन्त; √tyaj) + jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समासः (jīvitaṃ tyaktam yeṣām); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्

• नर्दन्तः: roaring
• नर्दन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nard (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• अभिवृत्ताः: advanced, charged
• अभिवृत्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√vṛt (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; ‘turned towards/advanced’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (emphasis)

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• सशिलायुधाः: armed with rocks (as weapons)
• सशिलायुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह-अर्थ) + śilā (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुषः/बहुव्रीह्यर्थक-विशेषणः: ‘śilāyudhāni santi yeṣām’; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्

Context

Vanaras, armed with rocks in the battle, roaring and not turning back, stood for the cause, giving up their life.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vanaras

FAQs

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

Loyalty to a righteous cause (dharma-sādhana): they prioritize justice and truth over self-preservation.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite injuries and fear, the Vanaras rally and advance again for Rāma’s mission.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-sacrifice and steadfast devotion to duty.