Shloka 20

इन्द्रजितो यज्ञानुष्ठानं अन्तर्धानं च

Indrajit’s Rite and the Invisible Assault

Devanagari script

स ददर्शमहावीर्यौनागौत्रिशिरसानिव ।सृजन्ताविषुजालानिवीरौवानरमध्यगौ ।।।।

Transliteration

sa dadarśa mahāvīryau nāgau triśirasān iva | sṛjantāv iṣu-jālāni vīrau vānara-madhyagau || 6.80.20 ||

Translation

Il aperçut les deux grands héros—Rāma et Lakṣmaṇa—au milieu de l’armée des Vānara, tels de puissants serpents, projetant un filet de flèches.

Word by Word

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

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महावीर्यौ: two of great prowess
• महावीर्यौ: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (object); कर्मधारयः (great in prowess)

• नागौ: two serpents/elephants
• नागौ: उपमान (Upamāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; उपमान (simile base)

• त्रिशिरसौ: three-headed
• त्रिशिरसौ: उपमान (Upamāna)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (having three heads)

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय (like/as)

• सृजन्तौ: pouring forth
• सृजन्तौ: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण (of वीरौ)

• इषुजालानि: masses of arrows
• इषुजालानि: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इषु + जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषः (net/mass of arrows)

• वीरौ: the two heroes
• वीरौ: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• वानरमध्यगौ: situated amid the monkeys
• वानरमध्यगौ: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वानर + मध्य + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (gone/standing in the midst of monkeys)

Context

That great hero saw Rama and Lakshmana like three serpents in the midst of Vanaras raining network of arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Vānara host
• Triśiras (three-headed serpent imagery)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights kṣatra-dharma: steadfast courage and disciplined engagement in battle for a righteous cause, without abandoning one’s duty even amid overwhelming conflict.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit observes Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa positioned among the Vānaras, actively releasing dense volleys of arrows in the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (heroic strength) and dhairya (steadfastness) of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, portrayed through powerful martial imagery.