Shloka 153
प्रहर्तुमैच्छत् त॑ं चास्य प्रासं चिच्छेद लक्ष्मण: । लक्ष्मणके तीखे बाणोंसे टूक-टूक होकर वे तोमर पृथ्वीपर बिखर गये। तब महावेगशाली वालिपुत्र श्रीमान् अंगदने एक वृक्ष उठा लिया और दौड़कर इन्द्रजित॒के मस्तकपर उसे दे मारा; परंतु इन्द्रजित् इससे तनिक भी विचलित न हुआ। उस पराक्रमी वीरने प्रासद्वारा अंगदकी छातीमें प्रहार करनेका विचार किया, किंतु लक्ष्मणने उसे पहले ही काट गिराया
prahartum aicchat taṃ cāsya prāsaṃ ciccheda lakṣmaṇaḥ | lakṣmaṇake tīkṣṇe bāṇoṃ se ṭūk-ṭūk hokar ve tomara pṛthvīpar bikhar gaye | tataḥ mahāvegāśālī vāliputraḥ śrīmān aṅgadaḥ ekaṃ vṛkṣam utpāṭya dhāvan indrajitaḥ mastake tam abhyahanat | parantu indrajit tena tanik api na vicacāla | sa parākrama-vīraḥ prāsena aṅgadasya vakṣasi prahartuṃ matim akarot, kintu lakṣmaṇaḥ taṃ prāk eva chittvā pātayām āsa |
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Lakṣmaṇa, wishing to strike, cut down the spear that was aimed at him. Shattered into fragments by Lakṣmaṇa’s keen arrows, the javelins scattered upon the earth. Then the illustrious Aṅgada, son of Vāli and possessed of great speed, uprooted a tree and ran to smash it upon Indrajit’s head; yet Indrajit was not shaken in the least. That valiant warrior then resolved to pierce Aṅgada’s chest with his spear, but Lakṣmaṇa, anticipating the danger, severed it first and brought it down. The episode underscores disciplined vigilance in battle: courage must be guided by alert protection of allies, and true prowess is shown not merely in striking but in preventing harm.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prowess is inseparable from vigilance and responsibility: Lakṣmaṇa’s excellence is shown in anticipating danger and protecting others, while Indrajit’s steadiness illustrates the ideal of composure under assault. Courage without alert restraint can become reckless; disciplined action sustains dharmic conduct even in war.
In the battle, Lakṣmaṇa intercepts and cuts down a spear aimed at him, shattering the javelins. Aṅgada uproots a tree and strikes Indrajit’s head, but Indrajit remains unmoved. Indrajit then attempts to spear Aṅgada’s chest, yet Lakṣmaṇa again prevents the blow by severing the spear beforehand.