Shloka 30

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः सुग्रीवप्रबोधनं च

Lakshmana’s Wrath and the Summoning of Sugriva

Devanagari script

बाणशल्यस्फुरज्जिह्वस्सायकासनभोगवान्।।स्वतेजोविषसङ्घातः पञ्चास्य इव पन्नगः।

Transliteration

bāṇaśalyasphurajjihvaḥ sāyakāsanabhogavān | svatejoviṣasaṅghātaḥ pañcāsya iva pannagaḥ ||

Translation

Il semblait un serpent à cinq têtes : les pointes de fer de ses flèches étaient comme des crocs frémissants, son arc comme un corps lové, et l’éclat de sa propre puissance comme un venin concentré.

Word by Word

• bāṇa-śalya-sphurat-jihvaḥ: whose tongue quivers like arrow-barbs
• bāṇa-śalya-sphurat-jihvaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śalya (प्रातिपदिक) + sphurat (कृदन्त; √sphur (धातु), शतृ) + jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त ‘sphurat’ = ‘quivering’; अर्थः: ‘whose tongue is quivering (like) arrow-barbs’

• sāyaka-āsana-bhogavān: having arrows as its seat and coils
• sāyaka-āsana-bhogavān: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक) + bhogavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (sāyakāḥ āsanam, bhogāḥ yasya = having arrows as seat/stand and coils)

• sva-tejo-viṣa-saṅghātaḥ: whose own radiance is like concentrated poison
• sva-tejo-viṣa-saṅghātaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅghāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (sva-teja eva viṣa-saṅghātaḥ yasya = whose own brilliance is a mass of poison)

• pañca-āsyaḥ: five-hooded
• pañca-āsyaḥ: Upamāna-anvaya (उपमानविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (pañca āsyāni yasya = five-mouthed/five-hooded)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक-निपात

• pannagaḥ: snake
• pannagaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pannaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Context

His bow was like the hood of a snake,with the iron nails fixed on the tip of his arrows like moving fangs and his own brightness like the venom of the five-hooded snake.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• bow
• arrows

FAQs

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

Dharma here is shown as righteous resolve: Lakshmana’s formidable, controlled power is directed toward upholding Rama’s cause and compelling accountability, not toward aimless violence.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana arrives at Kishkindha to confront Sugriva for delay; the poet describes Lakshmana’s terrifying martial presence through a serpent simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakshmana’s steadfast loyalty and disciplined wrath—anger harnessed in service of duty to Rama.