Shloka 39

इन्द्रजित्-लक्ष्मणयुद्धम् तथा वानरप्रोत्साहनम्

Indrajit–Lakshmana Battle and the Rallying of the Vanaras

Devanagari script

अथराक्षससिंहस्यकृष्णान् कनकभूषणान् ।।।।शरैश्चतुर्भिःसौमित्रिद्विव्याधचतुरोहयान् ।

Transliteration

atha rākṣasasiṃhasya kṛṣṇān kanakabhūṣaṇān |

śaraiś caturbhiḥ saumitriḥ vivyādha caturo hayān ||

Translation

Alors Saumitri transperça de quatre flèches les quatre chevaux noirs de ce lion parmi les Rākṣasa, parés d’ornements d’or.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequence: then)

• rākṣasa-siṅhasya: of the lion among rākṣasas
• rākṣasa-siṅhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa-siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; समासः: राक्षसानां सिंहः (lion among rākṣasas)

• kṛṣṇān: black
• kṛṣṇān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; हयान् इति विशेषणम्

• kanaka-bhūṣaṇān: adorned with gold ornaments
• kanaka-bhūṣaṇān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kanaka-bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; हयान् इति विशेषणम्; समासः: कनकेन भूषणम् (gold-ornamented)

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• caturbhiḥ: with four
• caturbhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; शरैः इति विशेषणम् (with four)

• saumitriḥ: Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa)
• saumitriḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vivyādha: pierced
• vivyādha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vyadh (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• caturaḥ: four
• caturaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; हयान् इति विशेषणम्

• hayān: horses
• hayān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Context

Then Saumithri pierced with four shafts all the four black horses decked in gold, of the lion of Rakshasas (Indrajith) and finished them

Characters & Entities

• Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa)
• Indrajit (implied by 'rākṣasasiṃha')
• Horses (hayāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma in battle includes strategic restraint and precision. By disabling the opponent’s mobility (horses) rather than indiscriminate slaughter, the action reflects controlled force directed toward ending the threat.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa gains advantage by shooting the four horses of Indrajit’s chariot.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Skill (kauśala) and decisive courage guided by purpose.