Shloka 23

इन्द्रजित्–लक्ष्मणयोर् घोरः शरयुद्धः

Indrajit and Lakshmana’s Fierce Exchange of Arrows

Devanagari script

अभीक्ष्णंनिश्श्वसन्तौतौयुध्येतांतुमुलंयुधि ।शरसङ्कृत्तसर्वाङ्गौसर्वतोरुधिरोक्षितौ ।।6.89.23।।

Transliteration

abhīkṣṇaṃ niśśvasantau tau yudhyetāṃ tumulaṃ yudhi | śarasaṅkṛttasarvāṅgau sarvato rudhirokṣitau ||6.89.23||

Translation

Schwer und wiederholt atmend kämpften die beiden heftig im Krieg – ihre Glieder von Pfeilen zerschnitten, ihre Körper überall mit Blut getränkt.

Word by Word

• abhīkṣṇam: again and again
• abhīkṣṇam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhīkṣṇam (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (repeatedly)

• niśśvasantau: breathing hard
• niśśvasantau: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: niḥ- (उपसर्ग) + śvas (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (present participle: breathing heavily)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nominative, Dual)

• yudhyetām: fought
• yudhyetām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन (3rd person dual)

• tumulam: fiercely
• tumulam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tumula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative)

• yudhi: in battle
• yudhi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yudh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Locative, Singular)

• śarasaṅkṛttasarvāṅgau: whose limbs were cut by arrows
• śarasaṅkṛttasarvāṅgau: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkṛtta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (ययोः सर्वाणि अङ्गानि शरैः सङ्कृत्तानि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)

• sarvataḥ: all over
• sarvataḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (from all sides/entirely)

• rudhirokṣitau: sprinkled with blood
• rudhirokṣitau: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rudhira (प्रातिपदिक) + ukṣita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (रुधिरेण उक्षितौ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)

Context

Wounded all over the body in war and bathed in blood, breathing heavily again and again both of them fought vehemently.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Indrajit

FAQs

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

The verse underscores steadfast duty under suffering: dharma is shown as endurance and commitment to one’s rightful cause even when the body is exhausted and wounded.

What is the narrative situation?

The duel reaches a brutal pitch; both warriors are badly cut by arrows and continue fighting while gasping for breath.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Titikṣā (forbearance) and vīrya (courage): continuing disciplined action despite pain.