Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 44, Shloka 1
जम्बुमालिवधः
The Slaying of Jambumali
सन्दिष्टो राक्षसेन्द्रेण प्रहस्तस्य सुतो बली।जम्बुमाली महादंष्ट्रो निर्जगाम धनुर्धरः।।।।रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरस्स्रग्वी रुचिरकुण्डलः।महान्विवृत्तनयनश्चण्डस्समरदुर्जयः।।।।धनुश्शक्रधनुः प्रख्यं महद्रुचिरसायकम्।विष्फारयाणो वेगेन वज्राशनिसमस्वनम्।।।।
sandiṣṭo rākṣasendreṇa prahastasya suto balī |
jambumālī mahādaṁṣṭro nirjagāma dhanurdharaḥ ||
raktamālyāmbaradharaḥ sragvī rucirakuṇḍalaḥ |
mahān vivṛttanayanaś caṇḍaḥ samaradurjayaḥ ||
dhanuḥ śakradhanuḥprakhyaṁ mahad rucirasāyakam |
viṣphārayāṇo vegena vajrāśanisamasvanam ||
Auf Befehl des Königs der Rākṣasas trat Jambumālī hervor, der mächtige Sohn Prahastas, großzahnig und den Bogen tragend. In roten Girlanden und roten Gewändern, mit Kranz geschmückt und mit glänzenden Ohrringen; von riesigem Leib, rundäugig, grimmig und im Kampf schwer zu bezwingen. Mit raschem Schwung ließ er seinen Bogen erklingen, Indras Regenbogen gleich; sein Dröhnen war wie Donnerkeil und Blitz, und er führte große, strahlende Pfeile.
Commanded by the demon king, Jambumali the invincible son of Prahasta, who had large teeth in front, big rolling eyes, red flower garland, red robes and a chaplet with beautiful earrings. He went round twanging his producing thunderous sound. His arrows were huge, shining and beautiful.
FAQs
The verse sets the stage for dharma versus adharma: the tyrant’s command sends warriors to uphold wrongful power, highlighting how might without righteousness becomes mere intimidation.
Rāvaṇa (implied as rākṣasa-king) dispatches Jambumālī, who emerges fully armed and terrifying, ready to confront Hanumān.
From the antagonist’s side, śaurya (martial prowess) is emphasized, but framed as serving an adharmic command structure.