Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 14

धूम्राक्षवधः

The Slaying of Dhumrākṣa

Devanagari script

वानरैर्भीमविक्रान्स्सैराप्लुत्याऽप्लुत्यवेगितैः ।राक्षसाःकरजैस्तीक्ष्णैर्मुखेषुविनिर्तिताः ।।6.52.14।।

Transliteration

vānarair bhīmavikrāntaiḥ sair āplutyāplutya vegitaiḥ |

rākṣasāḥ karajais tīkṣṇair mukheṣu vinirtitāḥ || 6.52.14 ||

Translation

Leaping again and again with swift force, the vānara heroes of dreadful prowess clawed the rākṣasas, wounding their faces with sharp nails.

Word by Word

• वानरैः: by vanaras
• वानरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• भीमविक्रान्तैः: of terrible prowess
• भीमविक्रान्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रान्त (√क्रम् धातु-कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (भीमं विक्रान्तं येषाम्); विक्रान्त = भूतकृदन्त (क्त) from √क्रम् with उपसर्ग वि-; पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural)

• सैः: by those
• सैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Pronoun; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural)

• आप्लुत्य: having leapt
• आप्लुत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + प्लु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) from √प्लु with उपसर्ग आ-; ‘having jumped’

• आप्लुत्य: leaping again and again
• आप्लुत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + प्लु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति indicating repeated action

• वेगितैः: swift (ones)
• वेगितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगिन्/वेगित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural); ‘swift/impetuous’

• राक्षसाः: rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• करजैः: by nails
• करजैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• तीक्ष्णैः: sharp
• तीक्ष्णैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural); विशेषण of करजैः

• मुखेषु: on the faces
• मुखेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• विनिर्तिताः: wounded / torn
• विनिर्तिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + निर् + तुद्/तृद् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त) with उपसर्ग वि-निर्; reading as ‘pierced/wounded’; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

Context

The Vanaras with their terrific valour jumping up wounded the Rakshasas in their face with their sharp nails.

Characters & Entities

• vānara warriors
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma in wartime is action aligned with protection of the innocent and restoration of order; the verse shows vigorous resistance against violent aggressors.

What is the narrative situation?

Close-quarters fighting: vānara warriors use speed and natural weapons (claws) to injure rākṣasas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearless initiative and agility—courage expressed through decisive action.