Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 28

इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः

Indrajit’s Brahmastra Rite and the Crushing of the Vanara Host

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्नाहूयमानेस्त्रेहूयमाने च पावके ।।।।सार्धंग्रहेन्दुनक्षत्रैर्वितत्रासनभस्थ्सलम् ।

Transliteration

tasminn āhūyamāne 'stre hūyamāne ca pāvake | sārdhaṃ grahendunakṣatrair vitatrāsa nabhaḥsthalam ||

Translation

Mientras se invocaba aquel proyectil y se vertía la ofrenda en el fuego, la vasta extensión del cielo tembló de espanto, junto con los planetas, la luna y las estrellas.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• pāvakam: fire (Agni)
• pāvakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pāvaka-dīpta-tejāḥ: whose splendor blazed like fire
• pāvaka-dīpta-tejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक) + dīpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: 'पावकेन दीप्तं तेजो यस्य' (having fire-blazing splendor)

• hutvā: having offered (into the fire)
• hutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having offered (oblation)'

• mahendra-pratima-prabhāvaḥ: having prowess like great Indra
• mahendra-pratima-prabhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक) + pratima (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: 'महेन्द्रसदृशः प्रभावः यस्य' (having power like great Indra)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• cāpa-bāṇa-asi-ratha-aśva-sūtaḥ: equipped with bow, arrows, sword, chariot, horses, and charioteer
• cāpa-bāṇa-asi-ratha-aśva-sūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + asi (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (समाहार/इतरेतर) बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत्: 'having bow, arrows, sword, chariot, horses, and charioteer'

• khe: in the sky
• khe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; 'in the sky'

• antardadhe: disappeared
• antardadhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: antar-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'disappeared/withdrew'

• ātmānam: himself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; reflexive object

• acintya-rūpaḥ: of inconceivable form
• acintya-rūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: acintya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: 'अचिन्त्यं रूपं यस्य' (of inconceivable form)

Context

While the missile was being invoked and fire sacrifice was done, all planets, moon, Sun, and Stars in the sky shook in fear.

Characters & Entities

• Agni (Pāvaka)
• astra (missile/weapon)
• graha (planets)
• indu (moon)
• nakṣatra (stars)
• sky (nabhas)

FAQs

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

Actions driven by adharma disturb the wider order: the cosmos itself reacting underscores that unrighteous power-seeking has consequences beyond the battlefield.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit’s invocation is so formidable that celestial bodies are described as trembling, signaling an ominous escalation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a virtue but a warning: unchecked ambition and misuse of sacred power is implicitly condemned by the omen-like cosmic fear.