Shloka 5

इन्द्रजित्-वधः

The Slaying of Indrajit

Devanagari script

तमसाबहुलेनेमास्सम्सक्तांसर्वतोदिशः ।नेहविज्ञायतेस्वोवापरोवारक्षसोत्तमाः ।।।।

Transliteration

tamasā bahulenemāḥ saṃsaktāḥ sarvato diśaḥ | neha vijñāyate svo vā paro vā rākṣasottamāḥ ||

Translation

Dichter Schatten hat diese Himmelsrichtungen von allen Seiten umklammert; hier ist nicht zu erkennen, wer der Eigene ist und wer der Andere, o Vornehmster der Rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• तमसा: by darkness
• तमसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• बहुलेन: dense
• बहुलेन: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of तमसा)

• इमाः: these
• इमाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• संसक्ताः: covered/filled
• संसक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√सञ्ज् (धातु) → संसक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वतः: on all sides
• सर्वतः: Desha-kala (देश-काल/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• दिशः: directions
• दिशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation)

• इह: here/now
• इह: Desha-kala (देश-काल/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: here/now)

• विज्ञायते: is discerned/known
• विज्ञायते: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: 'is known')

• स्वः: one's own (side)
• स्वः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'स्वजनः/स्वपक्षः' (one's own)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प/Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• परः: the other/enemy
• परः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'शत्रुः/विपक्षः' (other/enemy)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प/Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• राक्षसोत्तमाः: O best of Rakshasas
• राक्षसोत्तमाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास: उत्तमाः राक्षसाः; पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), बहुवचन

Context

" As all directions are spread with darkness now it is not possible to know who one's own is or others at this time."

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Rākṣasas
• darkness (tamas)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how adharma thrives in confusion: when discernment collapses, harm can fall on friend and foe alike—Dharma requires clarity, discrimination, and accountability.

What is the narrative situation?

A battlefield is enveloped in thick darkness, making identification impossible; the line is spoken to rākṣasa combatants amid the chaos of night tactics.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viveka (discernment) by contrast—its absence is shown as dangerous, underscoring why righteous conduct avoids tactics that erase moral clarity.