Shloka 21

निकुम्भिला-यज्ञविघ्नोपदेशः

Counsel to Disrupt the Nikumbhilā Rite

Devanagari script

सत्सन्दिशमहाबाहोलक्ष्मणंशुभलक्षणम् ।राक्षसस्यविनाशायवज्रंवज्रधरोयथा ।।।।

Transliteration

sat-sandiśa mahābāho lakṣmaṇaṃ śubhalakṣaṇam |

rākṣasasya vināśāya vajraṃ vajradharo yathā ||

Translation

«Oh de poderosos brazos, envía a Lakṣmaṇa, de signos auspiciosos, para la destrucción de ese rākṣasa, como el portador del rayo lanza su vajra.»

Word by Word

• सत्: well/indeed
• सत्: Sambodhana/Prayojaka-nirdeśa (सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (particle) ‘सत्’ = ‘सम्यक्/साधु’ (well/indeed)

• सन्दिश: instruct/dispatch
• सन्दिश: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-diś (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• महाबाहो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• लक्ष्मणम्: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शुभलक्षणम्: of auspicious marks
• शुभलक्षणम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) (agreeing with ‘लक्ष्मणम्’ as accusative object in apposition), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• राक्षसस्य: of the demon
• राक्षसस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• विनाशाय: for destruction
• विनाशाय: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vināśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वज्रम्: thunderbolt
• वज्रम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वज्रधरः: Vajradhara (Indra)
• वज्रधरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra + dhara (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), उपमा/प्रकार (as/just as)

Context

Lakshmana looking at Sugriva's face and also at the Vanaras, his eyes bathed in tears spoke in a dull tone.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Indra (Vajradhara)
• Vajra
• Indrajit (implied rākṣasa target)

FAQs

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

A ruler’s dharma includes timely delegation—choosing the right agent for a necessary act to protect the innocent and uphold truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa urges Rāma to dispatch Lakṣmaṇa to eliminate the rākṣasa threat (Indrajit) decisively.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Leadership and discernment—acting through the most capable and righteous warrior for the task.