Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 28

युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्

Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault

Devanagari script

तान् राक्षसगणान्सर्वान्वृक्षमुद्यम्यवीर्यवान् ।अङ्गदःक्रोधताम्राक्षःसिंहःक्षुद्रमृगानिव ।।।।कारकदनंघोरंशक्रतुल्यपराक्रमः ।।।।

Transliteration

tān rākṣasa-gaṇān sarvān vṛkṣam udyamya vīryavān |

aṅgadaḥ krodha-tāmrākṣaḥ siṃhaḥ kṣudra-mṛgān iva ||

kāra kadanaṃ ghoraṃ śakra-tulya-parākramaḥ ||

Translation

Valiant Aṅgada—his eyes reddened with anger, and his prowess like Indra’s—seized a tree and wrought a terrible slaughter among all those rākṣasa ranks, like a lion among lesser beasts.

Word by Word

• तान्: those (them)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• राक्षसगणान्: the groups of Rakshasas
• राक्षसगणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (rākṣasānāṃ gaṇaḥ)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्वनाम/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying राक्षसगणान्)

• वृक्षम्: a tree
• वृक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• उद्यम्य: having lifted
• उद्यम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-यम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having lifted/seized’

• वीर्यवान्: valiant, powerful
• वीर्यवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya + vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying अङ्गदः)

• अङ्गदः: Angada
• अङ्गदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• क्रोधताम्राक्षः: with eyes reddened by anger
• क्रोधताम्राक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध + ताम्र + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘क्रोधेन ताम्रे अक्षिणी यस्य’ (whose eyes are copper-red with anger)

• सिंहः: a lion
• सिंहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान-प्रयोग (as a simile term)

• क्षुद्रमृगान्: small animals
• क्षुद्रमृगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुद्र + मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (kṣudrāḥ mṛgāḥ)

• इव: like, as
• इव: Sambandha/Upamā (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

Context

Then the wonderful chariots, flags, horses, Vanaras and Rakshasas bodies bathed in blood fell on the ground looked fearful.

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgada
• Rākṣasa troops
• Tree (as weapon)
• Śakra/Indra (comparison)

FAQs

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

The verse presents force used in service of a righteous cause: courage becomes dharmic when directed toward protecting justice and resisting oppression, not toward personal cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

In the thick of battle, Aṅgada uproots/seizes a tree and attacks the rākṣasa formations with overwhelming ferocity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (heroic valor) and fearlessness—Aṅgada’s uncompromising battlefield courage in support of Rāma’s campaign.