Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 82, Shloka 15

इन्द्रजित्-हनूमद्-युद्धं तथा निकुम्भिलायां होमः

Indrajit vs Hanuman; Indrajit’s Nikumbhila rite

Devanagari script

वानरैसैर्महाभीमैर्घोररूपानिशाचराः ।।।।वीर्यादभिहतावृक्षैर्व्यचेष्टन्तरणक्षितौ ।

Transliteration

vānarais tair mahābhīmair ghōrarūpā niśācarāḥ | vīryād abhihatā vṛkṣair vyacēṣṭanta raṇakṣitau ||

Translation

Von jenen überaus furchterregenden Vānara, die Bäume als Waffen führten, mit Wucht getroffen, wanden sich die schreckgestaltigen, nachts umherstreifenden Rākṣasas und brachen auf dem Schlachtfeld zusammen.

Word by Word

• वानरैः: by the Vanaras
• वानरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; demonstrative adjective qualifying वानरैः

• महाभीमैः: very fierce
• महाभीमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: महान्तः भीमाः (very formidable); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; qualifying वानरैः

• घोररूपाः: dreadful-looking
• घोररूपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोररूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: घोरं रूपं येषाम् (dreadful in form); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; qualifying निशाचराः

• निशाचराः: night-rangers (Rakshasas)
• निशाचराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: निशायां चरन्ति (night-rangers); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वीर्यात्: by force/through might
• वीर्यात्: Hetu (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ablative: from/through force

• अभिहताः: struck down/beaten
• अभिहताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-हन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate adjective of निशाचराः

• वृक्षैः: with trees
• वृक्षैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• व्यचेष्टन्त: struggled/writhed
• व्यचेष्टन्त: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद

• रणक्षितौ: on the battlefield
• रणक्षितौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास: रणक्षिति (on the battlefield/ground of battle) used adverbially; locative sense

Context

Night rangers of dreadful appearance beaten up with trees by most fierce Vanaras, fell on the battlefield and struck one another.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Niśācaras (Rākṣasas)
• Battlefield

FAQs

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

Adharma meets its consequence in the arena of righteous resistance; violence is shown as a result of the larger moral conflict.

What is the narrative situation?

Rākṣasa fighters are battered by the Vānara onslaught and fall in disarray on the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial strength used in service of a cause (dharma-yuddha), not for personal cruelty.