Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 44, Shloka 3

जम्बुमालिवधः

The Slaying of Jambumali

Devanagari script

सन्दिष्टो राक्षसेन्द्रेण प्रहस्तस्य सुतो बली।जम्बुमाली महादंष्ट्रो निर्जगाम धनुर्धरः।।5.44.1।।रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरस्स्रग्वी रुचिरकुण्डलः।महान्विवृत्तनयनश्चण्डस्समरदुर्जयः।।5.44.2।।धनुश्शक्रधनुः प्रख्यं महद्रुचिरसायकम्।विष्फारयाणो वेगेन वज्राशनिसमस्वनम्।।5.44.3।।

Transliteration

sandiṣṭo rākṣasendreṇa prahastasya suto balī | jambumālī mahādaṃṣṭro nirjagāma dhanurdharaḥ || 5.44.1 ||

raktamālyāmbaradharaḥ sragvī rucirakuṇḍalaḥ | mahān vivṛttanayanaś caṇḍaḥ samaradurjayaḥ || 5.44.2 ||

dhanuḥ śakradhanuḥ-prakhyaṃ mahad rucira-sāyakam | viṣphārayāṇo vegena vajrāśani-samasvanaḥ || 5.44.3 ||

Translation

Auf Geheiß des Herrn der Rākṣasas trat der mächtige Jāmbumālin hervor, Prahastas Sohn, großzahnig und den Bogen tragend. Mit roter Blumengirlande und roten Gewändern geschmückt, mit Kranz und glänzenden Ohrringen geziert, mit weit rollenden Augen, grimmig und im Kampf schwer zu bezwingen, schritt er hinaus. Seinen Bogen, Indras Regenbogen gleich, ließ er rasch erklingen; sein Dröhnen war wie der Schlag des Donnerkeils, und seine großen Pfeile leuchteten.

Word by Word

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (धनुस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; object of viṣphārayāṇaḥ (stretching/twang-ing)

• śakra-dhanuḥ-prakhyam: like Indra's bow
• śakra-dhanuḥ-prakhyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakra (शक्र) + dhanuḥ (धनुस्) + prakhya (प्रख्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; adjective qualifying dhanuḥ; 'resembling Indra's bow (rainbow)'

• mahat: great/huge
• mahat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (महत् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; qualifying rucirasāyakam

• rucira-sāyakam: splendid missile-weapon (with bright arrows)
• rucira-sāyakam: Karma (कर्म/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rucira (रुचिर) + sāyaka (सायक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; karmadhāraya = 'beautiful arrows/arrow-weapon' (here: bow with splendid arrows)

• viṣphārayāṇaḥ: twanging/stretching
• viṣphārayāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi+sphar (स्फर्/स्फुर् धातु, शानच्)
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; agreeing with implied subject (Jambumālī)

• vegena: with speed
• vegena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vega (वेग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular

• vajra-aśani-sama-svanam: thundering like a thunderbolt
• vajra-aśani-sama-svanam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra (वज्र) + aśani (अशनि) + sama (सम) + svana (स्वन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; adjective qualifying dhanuḥ/viṣphāra; 'having sound equal to thunderbolt and lightning'

Context

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.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Jāmbumālin
• Prahasta
• Indra (Śakra)
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• arrows (sāyaka)

FAQs

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

It shows how valor can be morally ambiguous: martial excellence and splendor, when placed in service of adharma (Rāvaṇa’s cause), become instruments of wrongdoing rather than righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa dispatches Jāmbumālin (son of Prahasta). The verse introduces his appearance, weapons, and terrifying battle-readiness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Jāmbumālin’s warrior prowess and intimidation—yet framed as power aligned to an unrighteous command, contrasting later with Hanumān’s dhārmic strength.