Shloka 2

वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra

Angada’s Duel

Devanagari script

विष्पार्यचधनुर्घोरंशक्राशनिसमस्वनम् ।वानराणामनीकानिप्राकिरच्छरवृष्टिभिः ।।6.54.2।।

Transliteration

viṣpārya ca dhanur ghoraṁ śakrāśani-samasvanam |

vānarāṇām anīkāni prākirac chara-vṛṣṭibhiḥ ||6.54.2||

Translation

Er spannte seinen schrecklichen Bogen, dessen Dröhnen Indras Donnerkeil glich, und überschüttete die Vānara-Heere mit Pfeilregen, sodass ihre Reihen auseinanderstoben.

Word by Word

• विष्पार्य: having stretched (the bow)
• विष्पार्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√स्फुर्/√स्फार् (धातु; पाठभेद)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having stretched/drawn (the bow)’; here from viṣpāraya/visphāraya usage

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying धनुः)

• शक्राशनिसमस्वनम्: sounding like Indra’s thunderbolt
• शक्राशनिसमस्वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्र + अशनि + सम + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘शक्राशनेः समः स्वनः यस्य’ (having sound like Indra’s thunderbolt)

• वानराणाम्: of the Vanaras
• वानराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अनीकानि: troops, divisions
• अनीकानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anīka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्राकिरत्: scattered, showered upon
• प्राकिरत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-किॄ/किर् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम

• शरवृष्टिभिः: with showers of arrows
• शरवृष्टिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर + वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘शराणां वृष्टिः’ (shower of arrows)

Context

Then the son of Vali gazing at the broken monkeys looking at Vajradamshtra in anger, faced himself.

Characters & Entities

• Vajradaṃṣṭra
• Indra (Śakra)
• thunderbolt (aśani)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights yuddha-dharma in its raw form: combatants employ their trained weapons openly on the battlefield; the narrative sets the stage for tested courage and disciplined response rather than panic.

What is the narrative situation?

Vajradaṃṣṭra escalates the battle by drawing his bow and bombarding the Vānara forces with a heavy arrow-shower.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial prowess and fearlessness—strength used decisively in battle, prompting the opposing side to answer with steadiness.