Shloka 20

इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः

Indrajit’s Brahmastra Rite and the Crushing of the Vanara Host

Devanagari script

सम्प्राप्यमहातेजायुद्धभूमिमरिन्दमः ।।।।स्थापयामासरक्षांसिरथंप्रतिसमन्ततः ।

Transliteration

samprāpya mahātejā yuddhabhūmim arindamaḥ | sthāpayāmāsa rakṣāṃsi rathaṃ pratisamantataḥ ||

Translation

Als der mächtige Bezwinger der Feinde das Schlachtfeld erreichte, stellte er die Rākṣasas rings um seinen Wagen auf, als schützenden Ring nach allen Seiten.

Word by Word

• सम्प्राप्य: having reached
• सम्प्राप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund): 'having reached'

• महातेजाः: the very radiant one
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—महत् तेजः यस्य (very radiant/energetic), विशेषणम्

• युद्ध-भूमिम्: the battlefield
• युद्ध-भूमिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—युद्धस्य भूमिः (battlefield)

• अरिन्दमः: tamer of enemies
• अरिन्दमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि (प्रातिपदिक) + दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—अरिणां दमः (tamer of foes), उपाधि

• स्थापयामास: stationed/placed
• स्थापयामास: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु) [णिच् causative: स्थापय]
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative): 'caused to be placed/positioned'

• रक्षांसि: the Rakshasas (troops)
• रक्षांसि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्

• रथम्: the chariot
• रथम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locational focus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• प्रति: around/towards
• प्रति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Preposition-like)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्)
• Form: अव्ययम्; दिशावाचक/परितः-अर्थे (towards/around)

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Spatial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: on all sides)

Context

Upon reaching the battlefield, he, the tamer of foes, highly energetic Indrajith, ranged the Rakshasas around the chariot.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Rākṣasas
• Battlefield

FAQs

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

It shows disciplined organization in war; in the Ramayana, discipline is admirable, but dharma still asks whether the cause is righteous.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit arrives at the battlefield and arranges his forces around his chariot.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic competence and command—orderly deployment and preparedness.