Shloka 3

ऐन्द्ररथप्रदानम्

Indra’s Chariot Offered to Rāma; The Duel Intensifies

Devanagari script

दशग्रीवोरधस्थस्तुरामंवज्रोपमैश्शरैः ।।।।आजघानमहाशैलंधाराभिरिवतोयदः ।

Transliteration

daśagrīvo rathasthas tu rāmaṃ vajropamaiḥ śaraiḥ |

ājaghāna mahāśailaṃ dhārābhir iva toyadaḥ ||

Translation

Entonces Daśagrīva, erguido en su carro, hirió a Rāma con flechas semejantes al rayo, como una nube de lluvia que azota una gran montaña con torrentes.

Word by Word

• daśagrīvaḥ: Ten-necked one (Ravana)
• daśagrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa-grīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समास: बहुव्रीहि (दश ग्रīvāḥ यस्य सः)

• rathasthaḥ: standing in the chariot
• rathasthaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratha-stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समास: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (रथे स्थितः)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-निबन्धन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adversative/emphatic particle (तु)

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vajropamaiḥ: with thunderbolt-like
• vajropamaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra-upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); समास: तत्पुरुष (वज्रस्य उपमा)

• śaraiḥ: arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ājaghāna: struck
• ājaghāna: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√han (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mahāśailam: a great mountain
• mahāśailam: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-śaila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय (महान् शैलः)

• dhārābhiḥ: with streams/showers
• dhārābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• iva: like
• iva: Upama-sambandha (उपमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; simile particle (उपमावाचक)

• toyadaḥ: rain-cloud
• toyadaḥ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toya-da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समास: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (तोयं ददाति इति)

Context

In the sky, the planet Mars too stood in constellation with Visakha star presided over by gods Indra and Agni in heaven, which was propitious for the kosala kings.

Characters & Entities

• Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa)
• Rāma
• chariot (ratha)
• arrows (śara)
• thunderbolt (vajra)
• rain-cloud (toyada)
• mountain (mahāśaila)

FAQs

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

Dharma is tested through endurance: the righteous must withstand relentless force without abandoning truth or rightful purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

Early in the described exchange, Rāvaṇa from his chariot launches a heavy, continuous arrow-attack on Rāma, compared to rain striking a mountain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s implied virtue is steadfastness—firm like a mountain under pounding torrents.