Shloka 88

युद्धकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Rāvaṇa’s Assault on Nīla and Lakṣmaṇa; Hanumān Bears Rāma

Devanagari script

तथापित्वांमयामुक्तस्सायोकोऽस्त्रप्रयोजितः ।जीवितंपरिरक्षन्तंजीविताद्भ्रंशयिष्यति ।।6.59.88।।

Transliteration

tathāpi tvāṃ mayā muktaḥ sāyako 'straprayojitaḥ |

jīvitaṃ parirakṣantaṃ jīvitād bhraṃśayiṣyati ||6.59.88||

Translation

Dennoch wird der Pfeil, den ich entsandt habe, durch den Zauberspruch des Astra geweiht, dich vom Leben trennen, selbst wenn du es zu schützen suchst.

Word by Word

• tathāpi: nevertheless
• tathāpi: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय) + api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; concessive adverb ‘even so’

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta/Karaṇa (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; pronoun

• muktaḥ: released
• muktaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (√muc क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying sāyakaḥ

• sāyakaḥ: arrow
• sāyakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• astra-prayojitaḥ: weapon-charged
• astra-prayojitaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक) + prayojita (pra-√yuj/√yuj णिच् क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘charged/impelled by a missile-spell’ qualifying sāyakaḥ

• jīvitam: life
• jīvitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• parirakṣantam: while protecting
• parirakṣantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√rakṣ (धातु; शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying tvām

• jīvitāt: from life
• jīvitāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• bhraṃśayiṣyati: will deprive (you)
• bhraṃśayiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhraṃś (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada; causative sense ‘will cause to fall away’

Context

"The arrow released by me now is charged with a missile and will destroy your life. You have been protecting (changing your forms) your life."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Nīla
• astra (weapon-mantra)
• arrow (sāyaka)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the gravity of wielding power: astra-knowledge has decisive consequences, so a warrior’s dharma demands restraint, responsibility, and readiness for the results of one’s choices.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa declares that his astra-charged arrow will end Nīla’s life despite Nīla’s attempts to preserve himself through transformations.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial confidence and mastery of astras (weapon-mantras), presented as a formidable—though morally dangerous—form of strength.