Shloka 13

त्रिशिरोवधः (The Slaying of Triśiras)

Araṇyakāṇḍa, Sarga 27

Devanagari script

ममापि प्रतिगृह्णीष्व शरांश्चापगुणाच्च्युतान्। एवमुक्त्वा तु संरब्धश्शरानाशीविषोपमान्।3.27.13।।त्रिशिरोवक्षसि क्रुद्धो निजघान चतुर्दश।

Transliteration

mamāpi pratigṛhṇīṣva śarāṃś cāpa-guṇāc cyutān | evam uktvā tu saṃrabdhaḥ śarān āśīviṣopamān | triśiro-vakṣasi kruddho nijaghāna caturdaśa ||

Translation

“എന്റെ ധനുസ്സിന്റെ ഞാണിൽ നിന്നു വിട്ട അമ്പുകളും നീ സ്വീകരിക്ക.” ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു ക്രോധത്താൽ ജ്വലിച്ച രാമൻ, വിഷസർപ്പങ്ങളെപ്പോലെ ഭീകരമായ അമ്പുകളാൽ ത്രിശിരസിന്റെ വക്ഷസ്ഥലത്തിൽ പതിനാലു അമ്പുകൾ പതിപ്പിച്ചു.

Word by Word

ममmy

अपिalso, even

प्रतिगृह्णीष्वreceive, take back

शरान्arrows

चand

आपगुणात्from the bowstring

च्युतान्released, fallen off

एवम्thus, in this manner

उक्त्वाhaving said

तुthen, but

संरब्धःagitated, enraged

शरान्arrows

आशीविषोपमान्like venomous serpents

त्रिशिरःof Triśiras

वक्षसिon the chest

क्रुद्धःangry

निजघानstruck, smote

चतुर्दशfourteen

Context

Receive the arrows released from my bow-string. Saying so, the angry and agitated Rama discharged fourteen arrows, venomous like a snake, on the chest of Trisira .

Characters & Entities

Rāma

Triśiras

Bow (cāpa)

Arrows (śara)

FAQs

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

Dharma as proportionate, duty-bound response: Rāma answers an attack with decisive counterforce aimed at ending the threat, not with deceit—his words and action align (satya in intent).

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma verbally challenges Triśiras and immediately follows with a powerful volley of fourteen arrows to the chest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Determination and follow-through: Rāma’s speech is not empty bravado; it is matched by effective action.