Shloka 17

धूम्राक्षवधः

The Slaying of Dhumrākṣa

Devanagari script

वानरैरापतन्तस्तेवेगितावेगवत्तरैः ।मुष्टिभिश्चरणैर्दन्स्सैःपादपैश्चावपोथिता ।।6.52.17।।

Transliteration

vānarair āpatantas te vegitā vegavattaraiḥ | muṣṭibhiś caraṇair daṃṣṭraiḥ pādapaiś cāvapothitāḥ ||6.52.17||

Translation

Die Vānaras – schnell und noch schneller – fielen über sie her und streckten die Rākṣasas mit Fäusten, Füßen, Zähnen und sogar mit Bäumen nieder.

Word by Word

वानरैःby the Vanaras

आपतन्तःfalling upon/attacking

तेthey (those Rakshasas)

वेगिताःswift/impelled

वेगवत्तरैःwith greater speed

मुष्टिभिःwith fists

चरणैःwith feet

दन्तैःwith teeth

पादपैःwith trees

चand

अवपोथिताःwere battered/knocked down

Context

Dhumraksha, the bull among the Rakshasas seeing the army distressed and running away, being eager to fight began to cause havoc to the Vanaras.

Characters & Entities

Vānara (Vanaras)

Rākṣasa (Rakshasas)

FAQs

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

It underscores disciplined effort in a righteous cause: the Vanaras act decisively to protect Rāma’s mission, using whatever means available without hesitation in a just war.

What is the narrative situation?

Close-combat melee: Vanaras rush the Rakshasas and bring them down through grappling and improvised weapons like uprooted trees.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valor) and utsāha (energetic resolve) shown by the Vanaras in coordinated assault.