Shloka 15

युद्धकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Rāvaṇa’s Assault on Nīla and Lakṣmaṇa; Hanumān Bears Rāma

Devanagari script

योऽसौरथस्थोमृगराजकेतुर्दून्वस्थिन्दनुश्शक्रधनुःप्रकाशम् ।करीवभात्युग्रविवृत्तदंष्ट्रस्सइन्द्रजिन्नामवरप्रधानः ।।6.59.15।।

Transliteration

yo ’sau rathastho mṛgarāja-ketur dhūnvan sthindanuḥ śakra-dhanuḥ-prakāśam |

karīva bhāty ugra-vivṛtta-daṃṣṭraḥ sa indrajit nāma vara-pradhānaḥ ||6.59.15||

Translation

Le voici sur son char, portant l’emblème du lion ; il brandit un arc éclatant tel l’arc d’Indra. Avec ses défenses terribles projetées en avant, il paraît tel un éléphant : c’est Indrajit, illustre par les grâces qu’il a reçues.

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• asau: that (yonder)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ratha-sthaḥ: standing in a chariot
• ratha-sthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratha + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रथे स्थितः) विशेषणम्

• mṛga-rāja-ketuḥ: having the lion-emblem banner
• mṛga-rāja-ketuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga + rāja + ketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मृगराजस्य केतुः = सिंहचिह्नध्वजः)

• dūnvan: brandishing
• dūnvan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhū (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; धातुः धू (to shake/brandish)

• asthin: bone (as a club)
• asthin: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asthi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (पाठभेद/समासभेद सम्भवः)

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śakra-dhanuḥ-prakāśam: splendid like Indra's bow
• śakra-dhanuḥ-prakāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakra + dhanuḥ + prakāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शक्रस्य धनुः इव प्रकाशः) विशेषणम् (धनुः)

• karīva: like an elephant
• karīva: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: karin (प्रातिपदिक) + iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (iva = ‘like’); करिन्-शब्दः उपमानम्

• bhāti: shines/appears
• bhāti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; धातुः भा

• ugra-vivṛtta-daṃṣṭraḥ: with terrifying protruding fangs
• ugra-vivṛtta-daṃṣṭraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ugra + vivṛtta + daṃṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (उग्राः विवृत्ताः दंष्ट्राः यस्य)

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

• indrajit-nāma: named Indrajit
• indrajit-nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: indrajit (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोगः (nāma = ‘by name’ particle); indrajit as name-apposition

• vara-pradhānaḥ: pre-eminent through boons
• vara-pradhānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara + pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वरैः प्रधानः/वरप्राप्त्या प्रधानः) विशेषणम् (सः)

Context

"The one on the chariot, distinguished by the sign of a lion, and making sound with his bow, splendid as Indra's bow with terrific teeth projected forward looks like an elephant, eminent by virtue of the boons bestowed is Indrajith by name."

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Indra (Śakra)

FAQs

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

Power gained through boons and prowess must still be governed by dharma; mere might and divine gifts do not confer righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

A prominent rākṣasa champion (Indrajit) is identified and visually characterized as he prepares for battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial prowess and confidence (vīrya) are highlighted, while the broader epic implicitly contrasts such prowess with dharmic intent.