Shloka 6

वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra

Angada’s Duel

Devanagari script

वानराश्चापिरक्षस्सुगिरवृक्षान्महाशिलाः ।प्रवीराःपातयामासुर्मत्तमातङ्गसन्निभाः ।।6.54.6।।

Transliteration

vānarāś cāpi rakṣaḥsu giri-vṛkṣān mahā-śilāḥ |

pravīrāḥ pātayāmāsur matta-mātaṅga-sannibhāḥ ||6.54.6||

Translation

Die heldenhaften Vānara-Kämpfer — in ihrer Wut wie brünstige Elefanten — ließen auch Bäume, Bergblöcke und gewaltige Felsen auf die Rākṣasa herabregnen.

Word by Word

• वानराः: Vanaras
• वानराः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• रक्षःसु: among/at the Rakshasas
• रक्षःसु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Target-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• गिरिवृक्षान्: mountains and trees
• गिरिवृक्षान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (गिरयः च वृक्षाः च)

• महाशिलाः: huge rocks
• महाशिलाः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती शिला)

• प्रवीराः: heroes
• प्रवीराः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेष्य-भावे (as apposition to वानराः)

• पातयामासुः: they hurled / made fall
• पातयामासुः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रेरण (causative) धातु: पत्; लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• मत्तमातङ्गसन्निभाः: like rutting elephants
• मत्तमातङ्गसन्निभाः: कर्तृविशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त + मातङ्ग + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (मत्तमातङ्गवत् सन्निभाः = resembling rutting elephants)

Context

Deluded with fear, the Rakshasas seeing Vajradamshtra killed by monkeys, panic stricken, heads bent in shame, faces woebegone fled to Lanka.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma in wartime includes resolute resistance against oppressive force; the vānara response shows determined protection of their righteous objective.

What is the narrative situation?

The vānara warriors counterattack powerfully, using natural weapons—trees and rocks—against the rākṣasas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valor/strength) joined with commitment to the cause.