Shloka 24

इन्द्रजितो यज्ञानुष्ठानं अन्तर्धानं च

Indrajit’s Rite and the Invisible Assault

Devanagari script

प्रच्छादयन्तौगगनंशरजालैर्महाबलौ ।तमस्त्रःसूर्यसङ्काशैर्नैवपस्पृशतुश्शरैः ।।।।

Transliteration

pracchādayantau gaganaṃ śara-jālair mahā-balau | tam astraḥ sūrya-saṅkāśair naiva paspṛśatuḥ śaraiḥ || 6.80.24 ||

Translation

Obwohl das mächtige Paar den Himmel mit Netzen von Pfeilen verhüllte, sonnenhell strahlend, vermochten ihre Geschosse ihn dennoch nicht zu erreichen.

Word by Word

• प्रच्छादयन्तौ: covering
• प्रच्छादयन्तौ: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-छद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण (of महाबलौ)

• गगनम्: the sky
• गगनम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शरजालैः: with masses of arrows
• शरजालैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर + जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (nets/masses of arrows)

• महाबलौ: the two mighty ones
• महाबलौ: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मधारयः (great in strength)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अस्त्रैः: with weapons/missiles
• अस्त्रैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सूर्यसङ्काशैः: sun-bright
• सूर्यसङ्काशैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (sun-like in brilliance)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis: indeed/just)

• पस्पृशतुः: they touched/struck
• पस्पृशतुः: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Context

Though the mighty Rama and Lakshmana were covering the sky with their arrows resembling the sun they could not touch Indrajith.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Indrajit
• Sky
• Arrows

FAQs

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

Dharma is perseverance with humility: even great strength may not yield immediate results, yet one must continue righteous effort without despair.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa fire vast, brilliant volleys that fill the sky, but Indrajit remains unreachable due to concealment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Utsāha (undaunted effort) and endurance in the face of an unseen adversary.