Shloka 22

इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः

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

Devanagari script

सहविर्लाजसंस्कारैर्माल्यगन्धपुरस्कृतैः ।।।।जुहुवेपावकंतत्रराक्षनेन्द्रःप्रतापवान् ।

Transliteration

sa havirlājasaṃskārair mālyagandhapuraskṛtaiḥ | juhuve pāvakaṃ tatra rākṣanendraḥ pratāpavān ||

Translation

Dort verehrte der tapfere Herr der Rākṣasas Pāvaka (das Feuer) mit Opfergaben aus geröstetem Korn, denen Girlanden und Düfte vorangingen.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• havir-lāja-saṃskāraiḥ: with preparations/offerings of parched grain
• havir-lāja-saṃskāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: havis (प्रातिपदिक) + lājā (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃskāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः: हविः-लाजा-सम्बद्धैः संस्कारैः; 'with oblation-preparations of parched grain'

• mālya-gandha-puraskṛtaiḥ: adorned with garlands and fragrance
• mālya-gandha-puraskṛtaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + puraskṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः: (माल्यगन्धौ पुरस्कृतौ येषु तैः) 'adorned/preceded by garlands and fragrance'

• juhuve: worshipped/offered oblations
• juhuve: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'he performed oblation/worship'

• pāvakam: fire (Agni)
• pāvakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (locative adverb): 'there'

• rākṣasa-indraḥ: the Rakshasa king
• rākṣasa-indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'राक्षसानाम् इन्द्रः' (king of Rakshasas)

• pratāpavān: mighty, heroic
• pratāpavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratāpa-vat (तद्धित-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'possessed of valor/splendor'

Context

The heroic Rakshasa king worshipped according to tradition with flowers and fragrance followed by parched grain and fire god.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Pāvaka (Agni)
• Garlands (mālya)

FAQs

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

It highlights the tension between sacred ritual and moral intent: dharma is not merely ceremonial purity but ethical purpose grounded in truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Details of Indrajit’s offerings to the fire are described (materials and honors used).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Meticulous observance and resourcefulness in ritual preparation.