Shloka 16

इन्द्रजितो यज्ञानुष्ठानं अन्तर्धानं च

Indrajit’s Rite and the Invisible Assault

Devanagari script

सोऽभिनिर्यायनगरादिन्द्रजित्समितिञ्जयः ।हत्वाग्निंराक्षसैर्मन्त्रैरन्तर्धानगतोऽब्रवीत् ।।।।

Transliteration

so 'bhiniryāya nagarād indrajit samitiñjayaḥ | hutvāgniṃ rākṣasair mantrair antardhānagato 'bravīt ||6.80.16||

Translation

Entonces Indrajit, vencedor en la batalla, salió de la ciudad; tras ofrecer al fuego con mantras de rākṣasa, se volvió invisible y habló.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभिनिर्याय: having gone out / having departed
• अभिनिर्याय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-निर्-या (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘अभिनिर्याय’ = नितरां निर्गत्य

• नगरात्: from the city
• नगरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• इन्द्रजित्: Indrajit
• इन्द्रजित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रजित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समितिञ्जयः: victorious in battle
• समितिञ्जयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समिति + जि (धातु) → समितिञ्जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः समितौ जयः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष) = victorious in battle

• हुत्वा: having offered
• हुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• अग्निम्: fire
• अग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राक्षसैः: by/with Rakshasas
• राक्षसैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अन्तर्धानगतः: having become invisible
• अन्तर्धानगतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर्धान + गत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः अन्तर्धानं गतः (द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Indrajith who had acquired the power of being victorious in the wars departed, after uttering ritualistic verses which are known to Rakshasas only and making an offering into fire disappeared and bragged as follows.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Agni (sacrificial fire)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts proclaimed prowess with moral legitimacy: concealment and occult advantage raise questions of fair combat; Dharma in the epic favors transparent valor aligned with truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit leaves the city after rites, becomes invisible through rākṣasa-mantras, and begins a boastful declaration before attacking.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Cunning and confidence—battlefield mastery through secrecy and ritual power.