Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 89, Shloka 1

इन्द्रजित्–लक्ष्मणयोर् घोरः शरयुद्धः

Indrajit and Lakshmana’s Fierce Exchange of Arrows

Devanagari script

ततश्शरान् दाशरथिस्सन्धायामित्रकर्शणः ।ससर्जराक्षसेन्द्रायकृद्धस्सर्पइवश्वसन् ।।6.89.1।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śarān dāśarathiḥ sandhāyāmitrakarśaṇaḥ |

sasarja rākṣasendrāya kṛddhaḥ sarpa iva śvasan ||

Translation

Alors Lakṣmaṇa, fils de Daśaratha et fléau des ennemis, ajusta ses flèches et les décocha contre le seigneur des Rākṣasas, bouillonnant de colère, sifflant tel un serpent.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/कालवाचक (then/thereupon)

• śarān: arrows
• śarān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• dāśarathiḥ: Daśaratha's son (Rama)
• dāśarathiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāśarathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• sandhāya: having fitted/aimed
• sandhāya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam+√dhā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), (having fixed/strung/aimed)

• amitra-karśaṇaḥ: tamer of enemies
• amitra-karśaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amitra (प्रातिपदिक) + karśaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपाधि/विशेषणरूप संज्ञा

• sasarja: discharged/let loose
• sasarja: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• rākṣasa-indrāya: to the lord of rākṣasas
• rākṣasa-indrāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient-Target)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• kruddhaḥ: angry
• kruddhaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kruddha (कृदन्त; √krudh धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of dāśarathiḥ)

• sarpaḥ: a serpent
• sarpaḥ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय

• śvasan: hissing/breathing hard
• śvasan: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śvas (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (breathing hard/hissing)

Context

Then Lakshmana, the tamer of enemies, sighs in anger like a serpent, fixing his arrows discharged on Rakshasa king.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa (Dāśarathi)
• Indrajit (Meghanāda) (as rākṣasendra in context)
• arrows
• serpent (sarpa)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes righteous force: Lakṣmaṇa’s anger is not personal vengeance but purposeful action to protect the just and end violence unleashed by adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

After Indrajit’s challenge, Lakṣmaṇa responds decisively by fixing and releasing arrows at him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective valor and decisive action—courage directed by duty rather than ego.