Shloka 3

धूम्राक्षवधः

The Slaying of Dhumrākṣa

Devanagari script

राक्षसैर्वानराघोराविनिकृत्तस्समन्ततः ।वानरैराक्षसाश्चापिद्रुमैर्भूमिसमीकृताः ।।6.52.3।।

Transliteration

rākṣasair vānarā ghorā vinikṛttāḥ samantataḥ | vānarair rākṣasāś cāpi drumair bhūmisamīkṛtāḥ ||6.52.3||

Translation

Auf allen Seiten wurden die wilden Vānaras von den Rākṣasas niedergemacht; und auch die Rākṣasas wurden von Vānaras, die Bäume schwangen, zu Boden gestreckt.

Word by Word

राक्षसैःby the rākṣasas

वानराःmonkeys

घोराःfierce

विनिकृत्ताःcut down

समन्ततःon all sides

वानरैःby the monkeys

राक्षसाःrākṣasas

चand

अपिalso, even

द्रुमैःwith trees

भूमिसमीकृताःlevelled to the ground

Context

Fierce Rakshasas mowed down the Vanaras all over and even the Vanaras pulled down Rakshasas to the ground with trees.

Characters & Entities

Rākṣasas

Vānaras

Trees (druma)

FAQs

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

War’s gravity and restraint: the verse highlights the mutual devastation of battle, implicitly warning that violence—though sometimes undertaken for dharma—carries heavy cost.

What is the narrative situation?

A battlefield overview: both sides inflict severe casualties; Vānaras use uprooted trees as weapons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective courage and endurance (dhairya) of the Vānara host under intense assault.