Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 5

इन्द्रजितः अन्तर्धानयुद्धं

Indrajit’s Concealed Assault and the Fall of Rama and Lakshmana

Devanagari script

तेषांवेगवतांवेगमिषुभिर्वेगवत्तरैः ।अस्त्रवित्परमास्तैरैस्तुवारयामासरावणिः ।।6.45.5।।

Transliteration

teṣāṃ vegavatāṃ vegam iṣubhir vegavattaraiḥ |

astravit paramāstrais tu vārayāmāsa rāvaṇiḥ ||6.45.5||

Translation

Doch Rāvaṇi, kundig in Waffen und Meister der höchsten Astras, hemmte den Ansturm jener schnellen Vānara mit noch schnelleren Pfeilen.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun

• bhīmam: terrible
• bhīmam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• mārgamāṇāḥ: searching
• mārgamāṇāḥ: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mṛg (धातु) → mārgamāṇa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, शानच्)
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• diśaḥ: directions
• diśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective, Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (agreeing with diśaḥ)

• vegāḥ: swift
• vegāḥ: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; used as adjective 'swift'

• harayaḥ: vanaras
• harayaḥ: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• nārācaiḥ: with iron arrows
• nārācaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• kṣata-vigrahāḥ: with wounded bodies
• kṣata-vigrahāḥ: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣata (प्रातिपदिक; from kṣan/ kṣat? as 'wounded', क्त) + vigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुष: 'whose bodies are wounded'

• andhakāreṇa: by darkness
• andhakāreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: andhakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• dadṛśuḥ: they saw
• dadṛśuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; parasmaipada

• meghaiḥ: by clouds
• meghaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• sūryam: the sun
• sūryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• iva: like/as
• iva: Upamāna-marker (उपमानसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमा-निपात)

• āvṛtam: covered
• āvṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛ (धातु) + ā- → āvṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; past participle (क्त), agreeing with sūryam

Context

Rama, the scorcher of enemies, ordered the two sons of Sushena, the best of Vanaras Neela, Jambavantha, Angada, as well as courageous Sarabha, Vinatha, and Hanumantha and Sanuprastha endowed with extraordinary might, also Rshaba and Rshaba Skanda.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇi (Indrajit)
• Vānara warriors
• arrows (iṣu)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts power with righteousness: martial skill can obstruct noble effort, reminding that dharma is not identical with mere capability.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit counters the Vānara search/charge by halting their momentum with faster arrows and superior weaponry.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

On the Vānara side, persistence; on Indrajit’s side, technical mastery (though used in a larger context of concealment).