Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 52

इन्द्रजित्-वधः

The Slaying of Indrajit

Devanagari script

तौभासयन्तावाकाशंधनुर्भ्यांविशिखौच्युतौ ।।।।मुखेनमुखमाहत्यसन्निपेततुरोजसा ।

Transliteration

tau bhāsayantāv ākāśaṃ dhanurbhyāṃ viśikhau cyutau | mukhena mukham āhatya sannipetatur ojasā ||

Translation

Les deux flèches, lâchées de leurs arcs, illuminèrent le ciel ; se heurtant tête contre tête, elles s’entrechoquèrent avec une force embrasée.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• भासयन्तौ: shining/illuminating
• भासयन्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भास् (धातु) + णिच् causative; भासयत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (Present active participle), परस्मैपदी-कर्तरि, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘lighting/causing to shine’ modifying तौ

• आकाशम्: the sky
• आकाशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• धनुर्भ्याम्: from/with the two bows
• धनुर्भ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन

• विशिखौ: two arrows
• विशिखौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशिख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• च्युतौ: released
• च्युतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: च्यु (धातु) → च्युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशिखौ इति विशेषण

• मुखेन: with the point/front (lit. with the mouth)
• मुखेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मुखम्: the point/front
• मुखम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आहत्य: having struck
• आहत्य: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having struck/after striking’

• सन्निपेततुः: they collided/met
• सन्निपेततुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-नि-पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन

• ओजसा: with force/energy
• ओजसा: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

Context

Those arrows released from the bows lit the sky when their heads collided with each other and glowed by rubbing against each other.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Indrajit
• arrows (viśikha/śara)
• sky (ākāśa)

FAQs

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

Actions meet consequences: when opposing forces clash, outcomes arise from the force and intent set in motion—Dharma counsels mindful action.

What is the narrative situation?

Both heroes release arrows simultaneously; the missiles collide midair, producing a dramatic, luminous impact.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Samādhāna (steadiness) and martial parity—each meets the other directly, without retreat.