Shloka 31

वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra

Angada’s Duel

Devanagari script

चित्रांश्चरुचिरान्मार्गांश्चेरतुःकपिराक्षसौ ।।6.54.31।।जघ्नतुश्चतदान्योन्यंनिर्दयंजयकाङ् क्षिणौ ।

Transliteration

citrāṁś ca rucirān mārgāṁś ceratuḥ kapirākṣasau |

jaghnatuś ca tadā anyonyaṁ nirdayaṁ jayakāṅkṣiṇau |

Translation

Dann bewegten sich Affe und Rākṣasa, nach Sieg verlangend, in kunstvoll wechselnden, geschickten Bahnen und schlugen einander erbarmungslos.

Word by Word

• citrān: varied/wondrous
• citrān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying mārgān)

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

• rucirān: beautiful
• rucirān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rucira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• mārgān: paths/movements
• mārgān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• ceratuḥ: they moved about
• ceratuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

• kapi-rākṣasau: the monkey and the rākṣasa
• kapi-rākṣasau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक) + rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• jaghnatuḥ: they struck
• jaghnatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

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

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• anyonyam: each other
• anyonyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (reciprocal)

• nirdayam: mercilessly
• nirdayam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nirdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative), ‘mercilessly’

• jaya-kāṅkṣiṇau: desiring victory
• jaya-kāṅkṣiṇau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaya (प्रातिपदिक) + kāṅkṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण (desiring victory)

Context

Then desiring victory both monkey and Rakshasa struck one another passionately in wonderful harsh ways.

Characters & Entities

• Angada
• Vajradaṁṣṭra

FAQs

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

The verse warns that the thirst for victory can harden the heart. Dharma requires that even necessary conflict be governed by restraint and right purpose, not cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

The duel intensifies: both combatants maneuver cleverly and exchange merciless blows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic skill and relentless effort—yet the text also foregrounds the moral danger of nirdayatā (mercilessness).