Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 88, Shloka 11
इन्द्रजित्–लक्ष्मण संवादः तथा युद्धप्रवृत्तिः
Indrajit and Lakshmana: War-Boasts, Rebuke, and the Clash
स्मृतिर्नतेऽस्तिवामन्येव्यक्तंवायमसादनम् ।।।।आशीविषमिवक्रुद्धंयन्मांयोद्धुव्यवत्थित: ।
smṛtir na te 'sti vā manye vyaktaṃ vā yamasādanam | āśīviṣam iva kruddhaṃ yan māṃ yoddhuṃ vyavasthitaḥ || 6.88.11 ||
I think either your memory has failed you, or you have plainly set yourself on the road to Yama’s dwelling—since you stand ready to fight me, enraged like a venomous serpent.
"I am like a poisonous serpent, enraged. Is it that you have lost memory, or you stood here on the way to Yama's abode, I think."
FAQs
The verse highlights how speech can be used to unsettle an opponent; dharmic speech (satya-hita) avoids cruel intimidation and needless provocation.
Indrajit attempts to psychologically dominate Lakṣmaṇa by threatening death and comparing himself to a deadly serpent.
Indrajit projects ferocity; the counter-virtue in the Ramayana’s ethical frame is fearlessness grounded in righteousness.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.