Shloka 30

Sarga 93: Rāvaṇa’s Grief and Fury after Indrajit’s Fall; Move to Slay Vaidehī and Ministerial Restraint

Devanagari script

कवचंब्रह्मदत्तंमेयदादित्यसमप्रभम् ।।।।देवासुरविमर्धेषु न भिन्नंवज्रमुष्टिभिः ।

Transliteration

kavacaṁ brahmadattaṁ me yad ādityasamaprabham |

devāsuravimardheṣu na bhinnaṁ vajramuṣṭibhiḥ ||

Translation

Ich besitze einen von Brahmā verliehenen Harnisch, strahlend wie die Sonne; in den Kämpfen zwischen Devas und Asuras wurde er nicht zerschmettert, nicht einmal durch schlagende Fäuste wie Donnerkeile.

Word by Word

• कवचम्: armor
• कवचम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-दत्तम्: given by Brahma
• ब्रह्म-दत्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + datta (कृदन्त; √dā धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘brahmaṇā dattam’ (given by Brahma)

• मे: my/to me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; enclitic ‘my/of me’

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun) referring to कवचम्

• आदित्य-सम-प्रभम्: sun-like in splendor
• आदित्य-सम-प्रभम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āditya (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā/prabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘ādityena sama-prabham’ = having radiance equal to the sun

• देव-असुर-विमर्धेषु: in Deva-Asura battles
• देव-असुर-विमर्धेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + vimardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘deva-asurāṇāṃ vimardheṣu’ = in the clashes of Devas and Asuras

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

• भिन्नम्: broken
• भिन्नम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhinna (कृदन्त; √bhid धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle): ‘broken’

• वज्र-मुष्टिभिः: by thunderbolt-fists
• वज्र-मुष्टिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + muṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘vajreṇa muṣṭiḥ’ (fists with thunderbolts)

Context

"Your son who has never been defeated in war, who won Indra, the ruler of gods, after fighting and fighting was killed by Lakshmana's arrows. He has ascended to the higher world."

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Brahmā
• Devas
• Asuras
• Kavaca (divine armor)
• Vajra (thunderbolt)

FAQs

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

External protections and boons do not substitute for inner righteousness; dharma in the Ramayana repeatedly shows that adharma ultimately collapses despite divine-grade weapons or armor.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa lists his divine endowments to intimidate enemies and energize his troops.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights confidence and martial preparedness—yet ethically it points to the danger of pride in power rather than accountability to dharma.