Shloka 6.52.25

धूम्राक्षवधः (The Slaying of Dhumrākṣa)

Devanagari script

धूम्राक्षस्तुधनुष्पाणिर्वानरान्रणमूर्धनि ।हसन्विद्रावयामासदिशस्तुशरवृष्टिभिः ।।6.52.25।।

Transliteration

dhūmrākṣas tu dhanuṣpāṇir vānarān raṇamūrdhani | hasan vidrāvayāmāsa diśas tu śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ ||6.52.25||

Translation

Dhūmrākṣa, bow in hand at the forefront of battle, laughed as he loosed showers of arrows and drove the Vānaras to scatter in every direction.

Context

Dhumraksha with his bow in hand, showering arrows, laughing in battlefront dispersed the Vanaras in directions.

Characters & Entities

• Dhūmrākṣa
• Vānara (Vanaras)
• Śara (arrows)

FAQs

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

The verse cautions against cruelty and arrogance in violence: laughter while causing suffering signals adharma (moral disorder), contrasting with the restrained seriousness expected in righteous conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Dhūmrākṣa takes an aggressive lead position and uses sustained arrow volleys to break Vanara formations and force dispersal.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

For Dhūmrākṣa, tactical aggression and confidence; by contrast, the verse implicitly values the Vanaras’ need to regroup with discipline rather than panic.