Shloka 19

वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra

Angada’s Duel

Devanagari script

रुधिरोक्षितसर्वाङ्गोवालिसूनुर्महाबलः ।।6.54.19।।चिक्षेपवज्रदंष्ट्रायवृक्षंभीमपराक्रमः ।

Transliteration

rudhirokṣita-sarvāṅgo vāli-sūnur mahā-balaḥ |

cikṣepa vajradaṃṣṭrāya vṛkṣaṃ bhīma-parākramaḥ ||6.54.19||

Translation

Aṅgada, Vālis mächtiger Sohn—am ganzen Leib von Blut benetzt, doch furchtbar an Tapferkeit—schleuderte einen Baum auf Vajradaṃṣṭra.

Word by Word

• rudhirokṣita-sarvāṅgaḥ: whose whole body was drenched with blood
• rudhirokṣita-sarvāṅgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rudhira (प्रातिपदिक) + ukṣita (कृदन्त; √ukṣ धातु) + sarva + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘रुधिरेण उक्षितानि सर्वाङ्गानि यस्य सः’)

• vālisūnuḥ: Vali's son
• vālisūnuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāli + sūnu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘वालिनः सूनुः’)

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

• cikṣepa: threw
• cikṣepa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣip (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vajradaṃṣṭrāya: at/for Vajradaṃṣṭra
• vajradaṃṣṭrāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra + daṃṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-नाम

• vṛkṣam: a tree
• vṛkṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• bhīmaparākramaḥ: of terrible prowess
• bhīmaparākramaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘भीमः पराक्रमः यस्य सः’)

Context

Stretching his terrific bow which had the splendour of Indra's bow he (Vajradamshtra) showered shafts at the army troops of Vanaras and assailed them.

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgada
• Vāli
• Vajradaṃṣṭra
• tree (vṛkṣa)

FAQs

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

Steadfastness in righteous duty: even wounded, Aṅgada continues to protect his side and confront injustice rather than retreat.

What is the narrative situation?

After being badly hurt, Aṅgada retaliates by uprooting/using a tree as a weapon and hurling it at Vajradaṃṣṭra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (heroic energy) joined with resolve—courage that persists through pain.