Shloka 15

दूषणवधः

The Slaying of Dūṣaṇa and the Rout of Khara’s Host

Devanagari script

स कराभ्यां विकीर्णाभ्यां पपात भुवि दूषणः।विषाणाभ्यां विशीर्णाभ्यां मनस्वीव महागजः।।।।

Transliteration

sa karābhyāṃ vikīrṇābhyāṃ papāta bhuvi dūṣaṇaḥ |

viṣāṇābhyāṃ viśīrṇābhyāṃ manasvīva mahāgajaḥ ||

Translation

Dushana fiel zu Boden, seine Hände zerschmettert und verstreut – wie ein stolzer großer Elefant, dessen beide Stoßzähne gebrochen sind.

Word by Word

• etasmin: in this
• etasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular: in this)

• antare: in the meantime
• antare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular: interval/time)

• kruddhāḥ: angry
• kruddhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krudh (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; √krudh (angered)

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural: three)

• senā-agrayāyinaḥ: vanguard leaders
• senā-agrayāyinaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: senā (प्रातिपदिक) + agrayāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: सेनायाः अग्रे यायिनः (those who go at the front; vanguard leaders)

• saṃhṛtya: having assembled
• saṃhṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-hṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive), √hṛ with उपसर्ग ‘sam-’: having gathered/collected (together)

• abhyadravan: rushed toward
• abhyadravan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-dru (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; √dru with ‘abhi-’

• rāmam: Rāma
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mṛtyu-pāśa-avapāśitāḥ: ensnared by death's noose
• mṛtyu-pāśa-avapāśitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक) + pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ava-pāśita (कृदन्त, √pāś/paś?)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: मृत्युपाशेन अवपाशिताः (bound/ensnared by the noose of death); ‘avapāśita’ = past participle ‘bound with a noose’

• mahā-kapālaḥ: Mahākapāla
• mahā-kapālaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + kapāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/नाम: महान् कपालः (proper name)

• sthūla-akṣaḥ: Sthūlākṣa
• sthūla-akṣaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthūla (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/नाम: स्थूलः अक्षः/नेत्रम् यस्य (proper name)

• pramāthī: Pramāthī
• pramāthī: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramāthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (proper name)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• mahā-balaḥ: mighty
• mahā-balaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महान् बलः यस्य (very strong)

Context

Dusana fell down on the ground with broken hands like a proud elephant with both his tusks shattered.

Characters & Entities

• Dūṣaṇa

FAQs

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

The pride of wrongdoing is fragile: when dharma confronts violence, the seeming strength of the aggressor breaks, like tusks that once signified dominance.

What is the narrative situation?

Dūṣaṇa collapses after being disabled by Rāma’s arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadfast courage that overcomes intimidating force (a ‘mighty elephant’ image) without losing control.