Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 88, Shloka 25

इन्द्रजित्–लक्ष्मण संवादः तथा युद्धप्रवृत्तिः

Indrajit and Lakshmana: War-Boasts, Rebuke, and the Clash

Devanagari script

विशस्तकवचंभूमौव्यपविद्धशराससनम् ।।।।हृतोत्तमाङ्गंसौमित्रत्वामद्यनिहतंमया ।

Transliteration

viśasta-kavacaṁ bhūmau vyapaviddha-śarāsanam |

hṛtottamāṅgaṁ saumitre tvām adya nihataṁ mayā ||

Translation

ಸೌಮಿತ್ರೇ, ಇಂದು ರಾಮನು ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ನನ್ನ ಕೈಯಿಂದ ನಿಹತನಾಗಿ ಕಾಣುವನು—ಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿದ್ದವನು, ಕವಚ ಚಿದ್ರಗೊಂಡು, ಧನುಸ್ಸು ದೂರ ತಳ್ಳಲ್ಪಟ್ಟು, ಶಿರಸ್ಸು ಕಡಿತಗೊಂಡು.

Word by Word

• विशस्तकवचम्: with armor broken/loosened
• विशस्तकवचम्: Karma-visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशस्त-कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विशस्तं कवचं यस्य/यत्) — here as descriptive of 'त्वाम्'

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• व्यपविद्धशरासनम्: with bow cast away
• व्यपविद्धशरासनम्: Karma-visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यपविद्ध-शरासन (प्रातिपदिक; व्यप-√विध्/√विध्? (धातु) + क्त + शरासन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त + तत्पुरुषः (व्यपविद्धं शरासनं यस्य/यत्)

• हृतोत्तमाङ्गम्: with head removed
• हृतोत्तमाङ्गम्: Karma-visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृत-उत्तमाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ (धातु) + क्त + उत्तमाङ्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त; तत्पुरुषः (हृतम् उत्तमाङ्गम् यस्य/यत्)

• सौमित्र: O Saumitra (Lakshmana)
• सौमित्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमित्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• निहतम्: slain
• निहतम्: Karma-visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निहत (प्रातिपदिक; नि-√हन् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

"Saumithri, he (Rama) will see you struck by me fallen on the ground, shield broken and fallen down, bow thrown down and trunk with severed head."

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Lakshmana (Saumitri)
• Rama (implied as witness)
• armor (kavaca)
• bow (śarāsana)

FAQs

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

The verse shows the escalation of adharma through dehumanizing threats and triumphal fantasies. Ramayana ethics condemns gloating over violence; righteous conduct requires humility and proportionality even amid conflict.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit continues his taunt, painting a graphic image of Lakṣmaṇa’s defeat and death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, it underscores the Ramayana ideal of maryādā (decorum): a warrior’s greatness is measured not only by victory but by disciplined speech and conduct.