Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 44, Shloka 14

जम्बुमालिवधः

The Slaying of Jambumali

Devanagari script

सालं चतुर्भिश्चिच्छेद वानरं पञ्चभिर्भुजे।उरस्येकेन बाणेन दशभिस्तु स्तनान्तरे।।।।

Transliteration

sālaṃ caturbhiś ciccheda vānaraṃ pañcabhir bhuje | urasy ekena bāṇena daśabhis tu stanāntare ||

Translation

He cut the śāla tree with four arrows; he struck the Vanara on the arm with five; with one arrow he pierced the chest, and with ten more he hit the hollow between the breasts.

Word by Word

• सालम्: the sāla tree
• सालम्: Karma (कर्म/Object) of चिच्छेद
• Type: Noun
• Root: साल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चतुर्भिः: with four (arrows)
• चतुर्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण of (implicit) शरैः/बाणैः

• चिच्छेद: cut
• चिच्छेद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वानरम्: the monkey
• वानरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object) of चिच्छेद (understood: wounded/cut)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पञ्चभिः: with five (arrows)
• पञ्चभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of (implicit) शरैः/बाणैः

• भुजे: on the arm
• भुजे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• उरसि: on the chest
• उरसि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• एकेन: with one
• एकेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of बाणेन

• बाणेन: by an arrow
• बाणेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• दशभिः: with ten (arrows)
• दशभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of (implicit) शरैः/बाणैः

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle), अवधारण/विरोध (emphasis/contrast)

• स्तन-अन्तरे: in the middle of the chest
• स्तन-अन्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमास (between the breasts); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Context

He struck the sala tree with four arows, the arm of Hanuman with five arrows, chest with one, the hollow of the chest with ten more arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Jāmbumālin
• śāla tree
• arrows (bāṇa)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights steadfastness under assault: even when struck repeatedly, one is tested in self-control and commitment to a righteous mission (Hanumān’s service to Rāma).

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā, Jāmbumālin attacks Hanumān with a rapid series of arrows, even striking the tree cover and then Hanumān’s body in multiple places.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s endurance and composure—his capacity to continue despite injury—foreshadowing a disciplined response rather than panic.