Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 28
द्वन्द्वयुद्धप्रवृत्तिः
Dvandva-Yuddha: The Onset of Single Combats
निकुम्बस्तुरणेनीलंनीलाञ्जनचयप्रभम् ।निर्बिभेदशरैस्तीक्ष्णैःकरैर्मेघमिवांशुमान् ।।6.43.28।।
nikumbhas tu raṇe nīlaṃ nīlāñjanacayaprabham |
nirbhibheda śarais tīkṣṇaiḥ karair megham ivāṃśumān || 6.43.28 ||
En la batalla, Nikumbha atravesó a Nīla—oscuro como un montón de colirio—con agudas flechas, como los rayos del sol atraviesan una nube.
Just as the Sun 's rays pierced through clouds Nikumbha was shattered and fell like a mass of collyrium in the battlefield.
FAQs
The verse underscores the reality of trials in righteous conflict: even strong allies may be wounded, and dharma requires perseverance despite setbacks.
Nikumbha wounds the Vānara hero Nīla with a volley of sharp arrows; the poet frames it with a sun-and-cloud comparison.
Endurance under attack (implied for Nīla) and the intensity of martial engagement (for Nikumbha).