Shloka 18

वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra

Angada’s Duel

Devanagari script

ततश्शतसहस्रेणहरिपुत्रंमहाबलः ।।6.54.18।।जघानमर्मदेशेषुमातङ्गमिवतोमरैः ।

Transliteration

tataḥ śata-sahasreṇa hari-putraṃ mahā-balaḥ |

jaghāna marma-deśeṣu mātaṅgam iva tomaraiḥ ||6.54.18||

Translation

Daraufhin traf der Gewaltige den Fürstensohn der Vanaras immer wieder—hunderttausendfach—an den lebenswichtigen Stellen, wie ein Elefant von Speeren durchbohrt wird.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय

• śatasahasreṇa: with a hundred thousand (spears/strikes)
• śatasahasreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (संख्यासमासः) ‘शतसहस्रम्’ = 100,000

• hariputram: the monkey's son (Angada)
• hariputram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘हरेः पुत्रम्’)

• mahābalaḥ: the very strong one
• mahābalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘महद् बलं यस्य सः’)

• jaghāna: struck/slew
• jaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• marmadeśeṣu: in vital spots
• marmadeśeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marma + deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘मर्मणां देशेषु’)

• mātaṅgam: an elephant
• mātaṅgam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• tomaraiḥ: with javelins/spears
• tomaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tomara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

Context

Angada who was endowed with great strength all his limbs bathed in blood and terrific valour took hold of a huge tree and shattered Vajradamshtra.

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgada
• Vajradaṃṣṭra
• marma (vital points)
• tomara (spear/javelin)

FAQs

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

It underscores the harsh reality that dharma-yuddha still involves injury and testing endurance; righteousness is shown by not abandoning the cause even when struck at vulnerable points.

What is the narrative situation?

Vajradaṃṣṭra lands repeated heavy strikes on Aṅgada, described with epic hyperbole.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fortitude—Aṅgada’s capacity to remain in the fight despite severe assault.