Shloka 21

वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra

Angada’s Duel

Devanagari script

तंदृष्टवावज्रदंष्ट्रस्यविक्रमंप्लवगर्षभ ।।6.54.21।।प्रगृह्यविपुलंशैलंचिक्षेपचननादच ।

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā vajradaṃṣṭrasya vikramaṃ plavagarṣabha |

pragṛhya vipulaṃ śailaṃ cikṣepa ca nanāda ca ||6.54.21||

Translation

Als Aṅgada, der Stier unter den Affen, Vajradaṃṣṭras Krafttat sah, ergriff er einen gewaltigen Felsen, schleuderte ihn und brüllte laut auf.

Word by Word

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive)

• vajradaṃṣṭrasya: of Vajradaṃṣṭra
• vajradaṃṣṭrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra + daṃṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-नाम

• vikramam: valor/feat
• vikramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• plavagarṣabhaḥ: bull among monkeys (Angada)
• plavagarṣabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaga + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘प्लवगानाम् ऋषभः’)

• pragṛhya: having seized
• pragṛhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-√grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), ‘प्रगृह्य’

• vipulam: huge
• vipulam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• śailam: rock/mountain
• śailam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• nanāda: roared
• nanāda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nad (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

Context

The bull among monkeys, Angada seeing the valour of Vajradamshtra seizing a huge hillock hurled at the Rakshasa making loud sounds and breaking.

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgada
• Vajradaṃṣṭra

FAQs

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

Righteous resistance: when confronted by violent power, dharma may require decisive counter-action to protect one’s community and uphold the just cause.

What is the narrative situation?

After witnessing the enemy’s skill, Aṅgada escalates his attack by throwing a huge rock/peak while shouting a battle-cry.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Confidence and initiative—Aṅgada answers prowess with greater effort rather than discouragement.