Shloka 21

चित्रकूटे सैन्यधूलिशब्ददर्शनम्

Alarm at Chitrakūṭa: Lakṣmaṇa sights the approaching army

Devanagari script

गृहीतधनुषौ चावां गिरिं वीर श्रयावहै।अथवेहैव तिष्ठाव स्सन्नद्धावुद्यतायुधौ।।2.96.21।।

Transliteration

gṛhītadhanuṣau cāvāṃ giriṃ vīra śrayāvahai | athavā ihaiva tiṣṭhāvaḥ sannaddhāv udyatāyudhau || 2.96.21 ||

Translation

O tapferer Held, lass uns beide die Bögen ergreifen und auf diesem Berg Zuflucht nehmen; oder wir bleiben gleich hier—gerüstet, die Waffen erhoben, zum Kampf bereit.

Word by Word

• gṛhīta-dhanuṣau: having taken up bows
• gṛhīta-dhanuṣau: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gṛhīta (गृहीत) + dhanuṣ (धनुस्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi: ‘those whose bows are taken up’; Masculine, Nominative, Dual; qualifying āvām

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• āvām: we two
• āvām: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual

• girim: the mountain
• girim: Karma (कर्म) (object of śrayāvahai)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (गिरि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (वीर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• śrayāvahai: let us two take refuge
• śrayāvahai: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śri (श्रि धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्/Imperative), Ātmanepada, 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Dual; from √śri ‘to resort to’

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse particle (निपात)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; alternative particle (विकल्प)

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (देशवाचक)

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• tiṣṭhāvaḥ: let us two stand/stay
• tiṣṭhāvaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative), Parasmaipada, 1st Person, Dual

• sannaddhau: fully prepared
• sannaddhau: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-nah (सम्+नह् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Dual; ‘fully armed/ready’

• udyata-āyudhau: with weapons at the ready
• udyata-āyudhau: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udyata (उद्यत) + āyudha (आयुध) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi: ‘those whose weapons are raised/ready’; Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Context

O Rama, will this Kovidara emblem come into our possession in the battle? Can I see Bharata, the cause of the calamity that has befallen you, Sita and me?

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• mountain (giri)
• bows (dhanuṣ)

FAQs

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

The dharmic theme is protective duty: readiness to defend the rightful person and uphold justice, while still awaiting clarity before acting.

What is the narrative situation?

As Bharata’s forces approach, Lakṣmaṇa proposes taking a defensive position or standing ready for combat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s vigilance and loyalty—his readiness to safeguard Rāma at any cost.