Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 9

शरबन्धनम् (The Binding by Arrows) / Indrajit’s Illusory Assault and the Vanaras’ Consolation

Devanagari script

तंतुमायाप्रतिच्छन्नंमाययैवविभीषणः ।वीक्षमाणोददर्शाथभ्रातुःपुत्रमवस्थितम् ।।6.46.9।।

Transliteration

taṁ tu māyāpraticchannaṁ māyayaiva vibhīṣaṇaḥ |

vīkṣamāṇo dadarśātha bhrātuḥ putram avasthitam ||6.46.9||

Translation

Doch Vibhīṣaṇa, der mit einer Gegen-Māyā suchte, erblickte darauf den Sohn seines Bruders, der dort stand, obgleich von Trug verhüllt.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), contrast/emphasis

• māyā-praticchannam: hidden by illusion
• māyā-praticchannam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + prati-channa (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: मायया प्रतिच्छन्नम् (hidden by magic); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तम् इति विशेषण

• māyayā: by magic
• māyayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana
• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vīkṣamāṇaḥ: while looking
• vīkṣamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vīkṣ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle) ‘looking’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विभीषणः इति विशेषण

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक निपात

• bhrātuḥ: of (his) brother
• bhrātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• putram: son
• putram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• avasthitam: standing there
• avasthitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘standing/remaining’; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुत्रम् इति विशेषण

Context

Though the Vanaras searched all over the battlefield and in all directions of the sky, they could not see Indrajith of mystical powers.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Indrajit (brother's son)
• Māyā (illusion)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes discernment (viveka): Vibhīṣaṇa uses knowledge not for deception but to neutralize deception and protect the righteous cause.

What is the narrative situation?

While others fail to spot Indrajit, Vibhīṣaṇa detects him using comparable occult insight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s prajñā (clear intelligence) and commitment to Dharma over family allegiance.