Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 89, Shloka 42

इन्द्रजित्–लक्ष्मणयोर् घोरः शरयुद्धः

Indrajit and Lakshmana’s Fierce Exchange of Arrows

Transliteration

atha samara-pariśramaṁ nihantuṁ samara-mukheṣv ajitasya lakṣmaṇasya | priya-hitam upapādayan mahātmā samaram upetya avibhīṣaṇo 'vatasthē ||

Translation

そのとき大心のヴィビーシャナは、戦陣の先頭にあって無敵なるラクシュマナの安寧を願い、戦いの疲れを和らげようと戦場に来て、そこに立った。

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Ārambha/Anantara-avyaya (then)

• samarapariśramam: battle-weariness
• samarapariśramam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara + pariśrama (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: samarasya pariśramaḥ), Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative), Ekavacana (Singular)

• nihantum: to remove/destroy
• nihantum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√han (धातु)
• Form: Tumunanta (Infinitive, तुमुन्)

• samaramukheṣu: in the battle-fronts
• samaramukheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara + mukha (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: samarasya mukhāni), Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• ajitasya: of the unconquered
• ajitasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ajita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive), Ekavacana (Singular)

• lakṣmaṇasya: of Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive), Ekavacana (Singular)

• priyahitam: what is dear and beneficial
• priyahitam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya + hita (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Dvandva (itaretara: priyaṃ ca hitaṃ ca), Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative), Ekavacana (Singular)

• upapādayan: providing, bringing about
• upapādayan: Karta (कर्ता; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√pad (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (Present active participle, śatṛ), Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana (Singular)

• mahātmā: the great-souled one
• mahātmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + ātman (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (mahān ātmā yasya/mahātmā as epithet), Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana (Singular)

• samaram: the battle
• samaram: Karma (कर्म/Object of upetya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative), Ekavacana (Singular)

• upetya: having approached
• upetya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√i (धातु) + lyap (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund, ल्यप्)

• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana
• vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative), Ekavacana (Singular)

• avatasthē: stood (nearby), took position
• avatasthē: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Ātmanepada; Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (Singular)

Context

"Do you not remember that in the first combat your brother bound by me had fallen on the ground. Why do you not remember my valour?"

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma includes compassionate support: serving the righteous warrior through care and timely assistance is itself a form of righteous conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

As the duel strains Lakṣmaṇa, Vibhīṣaṇa arrives to help and relieve him, marking the sarga’s close.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s loyalty and benevolence—acting for another’s good without self-interest.