Shloka 24

युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्

Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault

Devanagari script

केचिदस्त्राणिसन्सृज्यबाहुयुद्धमकुर्वत ।तलैश्चचरणैश्चापिमुष्टिभिश्चद्रुमैरपि ।।6.53.23।।जानुभिश्चहताःकेचिद्भिन्नदेहाश्चराक्षसाः ।शिलाभिश्चूर्णिताःकेचिद्वानरैर्युद्धदुर्मदैः ।।6.53.24।।

Transliteration

vajradaṃṣṭro bhṛśaṃ bāṇaiḥ raṇe vitrāsayan harīn |

cacāra lokasaṃhāre pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ ||

Translation

ヴァジュラダムシュトラは戦場を駆け巡り、矢でヴァナラたちを猛烈に攻撃した。それはまるで、世界の終わりの時に縄を手にして動く死神のようであった。

Word by Word

• वज्रदंष्ट्रः: Vajradaṃṣṭra (the one with thunderbolt-like fangs)
• वज्रदंष्ट्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + daṃṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (नामधेयवत्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc nom sg); अर्थः ‘वज्रवत् दंष्ट्रा यस्य’

• भृशम्: violently/greatly
• भृशम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (intensifier adverb: greatly)

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (masc instr pl)

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (masc loc sg)

• वित्रासयन्: frightening
• वित्रासयन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√tras (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्) + śatṛ (कृत्)
• Form: णिजन्त-धातु (causative) + वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘frightening’

• हरीन्: Vanaras
• हरीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (masc acc pl)

• चचार: roamed/went about
• चचार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (he moved about)

• लोकसंहारे: at the world’s destruction
• लोकसंहारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: लोकस्य संहारः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (masc loc sg)

• पाशहस्तः: noose-in-handed
• पाशहस्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; ‘पाशः हस्ते यस्य’ (having a noose in hand)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक (comparative particle: like/as)

• अन्तकः: Death (Yama)
• अन्तकः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc nom sg)

Context

Indeed, abandoning the weapons, the Vanaras fought with their palms, fists, feet, trees, and knees and smashed the Rakshasas crushing their bodies like rocks.

Characters & Entities

• Vajradaṃṣṭra
• Vānara(s)
• Antaka (Death)

FAQs

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

The comparison to Death stresses how adharma-led aggression spreads fear. Dharma in war is not terrorizing the helpless but fighting with restraint and purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

Vajradaṃṣṭra enters the fray as a major Rākṣasa champion, moving through the battlefield and striking the Vānaras with arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial prowess is shown, but framed negatively as intimidation and destructive force rather than righteous heroism.