Shloka 30

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः सुग्रीवप्रबोधनं च

Lakshmana’s Wrath and the Summoning of Sugriva

Devanagari script

बाणशल्यस्फुरज्जिह्वस्सायकासनभोगवान्।।स्वतेजोविषसङ्घातः पञ्चास्य इव पन्नगः।

Transliteration

bāṇaśalyasphurajjihvaḥ sāyakāsanabhogavān | svatejoviṣasaṅghātaḥ pañcāsya iva pannagaḥ ||

Translation

Er glich einer fünffach gehaubten Schlange: die eisernen Pfeilspitzen wie zuckende Fangzähne, der Bogen wie der geringelte Leib, und das Glühen seiner eigenen Strahlkraft wie verdichtetes Gift.

Word by Word

• bāṇa-śalya-sphurat-jihvaḥ: whose tongue quivers like arrow-barbs
• bāṇa-śalya-sphurat-jihvaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śalya (प्रातिपदिक) + sphurat (कृदन्त; √sphur (धातु), शतृ) + jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त ‘sphurat’ = ‘quivering’; अर्थः: ‘whose tongue is quivering (like) arrow-barbs’

• sāyaka-āsana-bhogavān: having arrows as its seat and coils
• sāyaka-āsana-bhogavān: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक) + bhogavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (sāyakāḥ āsanam, bhogāḥ yasya = having arrows as seat/stand and coils)

• sva-tejo-viṣa-saṅghātaḥ: whose own radiance is like concentrated poison
• sva-tejo-viṣa-saṅghātaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅghāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (sva-teja eva viṣa-saṅghātaḥ yasya = whose own brilliance is a mass of poison)

• pañca-āsyaḥ: five-hooded
• pañca-āsyaḥ: Upamāna-anvaya (उपमानविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (pañca āsyāni yasya = five-mouthed/five-hooded)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक-निपात

• pannagaḥ: snake
• pannagaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pannaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Context

His bow was like the hood of a snake,with the iron nails fixed on the tip of his arrows like moving fangs and his own brightness like the venom of the five-hooded snake.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• bow
• arrows

FAQs

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

Dharma here is shown as righteous resolve: Lakshmana’s formidable, controlled power is directed toward upholding Rama’s cause and compelling accountability, not toward aimless violence.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana arrives at Kishkindha to confront Sugriva for delay; the poet describes Lakshmana’s terrifying martial presence through a serpent simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakshmana’s steadfast loyalty and disciplined wrath—anger harnessed in service of duty to Rama.