Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 80, Shloka 39

इन्द्रजितो यज्ञानुष्ठानं अन्तर्धानं च

Indrajit’s Rite and the Invisible Assault

Devanagari script

अयुध्यमानंप्रच्छन्नंप्राञ्जलिंशरणागतम् ।पलायमानंमत्तंवा न हन्तुंत्वमिहार्हसि ।।।।

Transliteration

ayudhyamānaṁ pracchannaṁ prāñjaliṁ śaraṇāgatam | palāyamānaṁ mattaṁ vā na hantuṁ tvam ihārhasi || 6.80.39 ||

Translation

ここで汝は、戦わぬ者—退いた者や身を隠す者—を殺してはならぬ。合掌して帰依を求める者も、逃げる者も、また茫然として戦えぬ者も、討つに値しない。

Word by Word

• ayudhyamānam: one who is not fighting
• ayudhyamānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + yudh (धातु)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ/शानच्), Parasmaipada sense; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; with privative a- = 'not fighting'

• pracchannam: hidden/concealed
• pracchannam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + chad (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prāñjalim: with folded hands
• prāñjalim: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective meaning 'with joined palms'

• śaraṇāgatam: one who has sought refuge
• śaraṇāgatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āgata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष) 'śaraṇaṃ āgataḥ'; Past participle base āgata (क्त); Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• palāyamānam: fleeing
• palāyamānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: palāy (धातु)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ/शानच्), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• mattam: intoxicated/deluded
• mattam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vā: or
• vā: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (समुच्चय/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Disjunctive particle (विकल्प) = 'or'

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Negation particle (निषेध)

• hantum: to kill
• hantum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Tumun-infinitive (तुमुन्)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• arhasi: you ought/are fit
• arhasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: Parasmaipada, Laṭ (Present/लट्), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Singular

Context

The great soul Sri Rama, having spoken in a meaningful manner, began to reflect on the means of killing Indrajith swiftly as the leaders of Vanaras surrounded him and awaited.৷৷ ইত্যার্ষেবাল্মীকীযেশ্রীমদ্রামাযণেআদিকাব্যেযুদ্ধকাণ্ডেঅশীতিতমস্সর্গঃ ৷৷This is the end of the eightieth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Yuddha-dharma: a righteous warrior must not kill the non-combatant or incapacitated—especially one who seeks refuge with folded hands. Mercy toward the surrendered and restraint toward the helpless are treated as marks of true righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

In the midst of the war, guidance is given on the limits of legitimate violence—who may and may not be slain according to the moral law of battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-restraint (dama) and compassion (dayā) governed by principle—strength disciplined by dharma rather than anger.