Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 14

चैत्यप्रासाद-विध्वंसः

Destruction of the Chaitya Palace and Hanuman’s Proclamation

Devanagari script

ते गदाभिर्विचित्राभिः परिघैः काञ्चनाङ्गदैः।आजघ्नुर्वानरश्रेष्ठं बाणैश्चादित्यसन्निभैः।।।।

Transliteration

te gadābhir vicitrābhiḥ parighaiḥ kāñcanāṅgadaiḥ |

ājaghnur vānara-śreṣṭhaṃ bāṇaiś cāditya-sannibhaiḥ ||

Translation

彼らは妙なる棍棒で、黄金の飾りを帯びた重い鉄棒で、さらに太陽のごとく燃え立つ矢で、猿たちの最勝者を打ち据えた。

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• gadābhiḥ: with maces
• gadābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करणम्

• vicitrābhiḥ: variegated, remarkable
• vicitrābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (gadābhiḥ/parighaiḥ)

• parighaiḥ: with iron bars/crowbars
• parighaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parigha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करणम्

• kāñcanāṅgadaiḥ: with golden ornaments/handles
• kāñcanāṅgadaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana-aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (parighaiḥ); समासः कर्मधारय (kāñcanāni aṅgadāni yaiḥ = having golden ornaments/handles)

• ājaghnur: struck
• ājaghnur: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-han (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• vānaraśreṣṭham: the best of monkeys (Hanuman)
• vānaraśreṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara-śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (vānareṣu śreṣṭhaḥ)

• bāṇaiḥ: with arrows
• bāṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• ādityasannibhaiḥ: sun-like, radiant
• ādityasannibhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āditya-sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (bāṇaiḥ); समासः तत्पुरुष (ādityavat sannibhāḥ = sun-like)

Context

Holding astonishing maces decorated with gold, iron crowbars and sharp arrows resembling the rays of the Sun the ogres hit Hanuman, the foremost of vanaras.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rākṣasas (attackers implied)
• Weapons (gadā, parigha, bāṇa)
• Āditya (Sun, as simile)

FAQs

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

Dharma is tested under violence: righteousness is not measured by lack of opposition but by endurance and right intention amid attacks.

What is the narrative situation?

The caitya-guards launch a coordinated strike on Hanumān using heavy melee weapons and radiant arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣānti and dhairya (forbearance and composure) are implied in Hanumān as he withstands a barrage without losing purpose.