Shloka 23

Devanagari script

पट्टसान्परिघांश्चक्रान्दण्डान्महायशान् ।बाणजालानिशूलानिभास्वरान्कूटमुद्गरान् ।।6.31.22।।यष्टीश्चतोमरान् शक्तीश्चक्राणिमुसलानिच ।उद्यम्योद्यम्यरक्षोभिर्वानरेषुनिपातितां ।।6.31.23।।

Transliteration

paṭṭasān parighāṃś cakrān daṇḍān mahāyaśān | bāṇa-jālāni śūlāni bhāsvarān kūṭa-mudgarān ||

yaṣṭīś ca tomarān śaktīś cakrāṇi musalāni ca | udyamyodyamya rakṣobhir vānarēṣu nipātitāḥ ||

Translation

Sans cesse, les Rākṣasas levèrent et lancèrent sur les Vānaras des lances, des barres de fer, des disques, de lourds bâtons, des pluies de flèches, des tridents, des maillets de fer étincelants, des gourdins, des javelots, des śaktis, d’autres disques et des masses.

Word by Word

• yaṣṭīḥ: clubs/staves
• yaṣṭīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tomarān: lances/javelins
• tomarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tomara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• śaktīḥ: spears/darts
• śaktīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• cakrāṇi: discus-wheels (chakras)
• cakrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• musalāni: maces/pestles
• musalāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: musala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• udyamya: having lifted
• udyamya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√yam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘उद्’ उपसर्ग (prefix ud-), अर्थ: ‘उत्थाप्य/उद्धृत्य’ (having lifted/raising)

• udyamya: again and again lifting
• udyamya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√yam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पुनरुक्ति (repetition) = ‘again and again lifting’

• rakṣobhiḥ: by the Rakshasas
• rakṣobhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• vānareṣu: among/on the Vanaras
• vānareṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (plural)

• nipātitān: hurled/caused to fall
• nipātitān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), ‘नि’ उपसर्ग (prefix ni-), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural); कर्मणि प्रयोग-सूचक (denotes ‘having been hurled/caused to fall’)

Context

Again, and again lifting spears, iron bars, javelins, huge staffs, sparkling maces, shining iron mallets and clubs, lances and strong Musalas, the Rakshasas hurled at Vanaras.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Rākṣasas
• Vānaras

FAQs

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

The verse depicts the brutality of war; dharma in the epic context includes protecting the righteous and restraining violence to rightful ends. Here it is presented through the lens of an aggressor’s campaign, highlighting adharma-driven violence.

What is the narrative situation?

In a detailed battle-image, Rāvaṇa describes (or fabricates) the Rākṣasas bombarding the Vānara forces with many kinds of weapons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The Vānaras’ courage is implied as they endure overwhelming weaponry; the Rākṣasas’ relentless aggression is explicit.