Shloka 5

शक्तिप्रहारः

Ravana’s Shakti Javelin and Lakshmana’s Wounding

Devanagari script

तदस्त्रंराघव्श्रीमानुत्तमास्त्रविदांवरः ।जघानपरमास्त्रणगान्धर्वेणमहाद्युतिः ।।।।

Transliteration

tad astraṃ rāghavaḥ śrīmān uttamāstravidāṃ varaḥ |

jaghāna paramāstreṇa gāndharveṇa mahādyutiḥ ||

Translation

ಮಹಾದ್ಯುತಿಯುಳ್ಳ ಶ್ರೀಮಾನ್ ರಾಘವನು—ಅಸ್ತ್ರವಿದ್ಯೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನು—ಆ ಅಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನು ಪರಮ ಗಾಂಧರ್ವ ಅಸ್ತ್ರದಿಂದ ನಿಷ್ಫಲಗೊಳಿಸಿದನು.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अस्त्रम्: missile, weapon
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राघवः: Rāghava (Rama)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रीमान्: glorious, illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• उत्तमास्त्रविदाम्: of the best weapon-knowers
• उत्तमास्त्रविदाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्रविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (उत्तमः अस्त्रविद्)

• वरः: the foremost
• वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘श्रेष्ठः’ अर्थे

• जघान: struck down, neutralized
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमास्त्राणि: supreme missiles
• परमास्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमाणि अस्त्राणि)

• गान्धर्वेण: by the Gāndharva (weapon/spell)
• गान्धर्वेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; साधन-कारक

• महाद्युतिः: of great splendour
• महाद्युतिः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती द्युतिः यस्य) विशेषणरूपेण

Context

"O Vanaras! I take this truthful vow now in your presence. In a short while you will be seeing the world devoid of Ravana or devoid of Rama."

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Rāvaṇa (implied as the opponent whose missile is countered)

FAQs

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

It reflects kṣātra-dharma: disciplined, proportionate use of power—Rāma counters a hostile weapon with rightful skill rather than uncontrolled violence.

What is the narrative situation?

In the climactic battle, Rāma answers an incoming weapon (associated with Rāvaṇa) by deploying a superior counter-weapon.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mastery with restraint: Rāma’s trained competence and composure under threat.