Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 26

द्वन्द्वयुद्धप्रवृत्तिः

Dvandva-Yuddha: The Onset of Single Combats

Devanagari script

तेषांचतुर्णांरामस्तुशिरांसिनिशितैश्शरैः ।क्रुद्धश्चतुर्भिश्चिच्छेदघोरैरग्निशिखोपमैः ।।6.43.26।।

Transliteration

teṣāṃ caturṇāṃ rāmas tu śirāṃsi niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |

kruddhaś caturbhiś ciccheda ghorair agniśikhopamaiḥ || 6.43.26 ||

Translation

Entonces Rāma, airado, cercenó las cabezas de aquellos cuatro con cuatro flechas afiladas y terribles, ardientes como lenguas de fuego.

Word by Word

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; Genitive plural (common gender)

• caturṇām: of the four
• caturṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive plural; qualifies तेषाम

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• śirāṃsi: heads
• śirāṃsi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; Neuter accusative plural

• niśitaiḥ: sharp
• niśitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; agrees with शरैः; Masculine instrumental plural

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Masculine instrumental plural

• kruddhaḥ: angered
• kruddhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kruddha (√krudh, धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Past participle used adjectivally; Masculine nominative singular

• caturbhiḥ: with four
• caturbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; (with four [arrows])

• ciccheda: cut off
• ciccheda: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Perfect active 3rd sg

• ghoraiḥ: terrible
• ghoraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; agrees with (शरैः) understood; Masculine instrumental plural

• agni-śikhā-upamaiḥ: like fire-flames
• agni-śikhā-upamaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + śikhā (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (उपमान-निर्देश: 'like flames of fire'); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Masculine instrumental plural

Context

Raged Rama with his sharp arrows which were like flames of fire destroyed all the four Rakshasas by cutting their heads.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Agniketu
• Raśmiketu
• Suptaghna
• Yajñakopa

FAQs

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

Daṇḍa (just force) is applied decisively: Rāma ends a coordinated threat swiftly, protecting the righteous host and restoring order in battle.

What is the narrative situation?

After being pierced by their arrows, Rāma counters by beheading the four attackers with four arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Controlled power—Rāma’s precision and proportional, mission-focused retaliation.