Shloka 10

एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः (Aranyakanda 39): राक्षसस्य रामत्रासवर्णनम् / The Demon’s Account of Rama

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Devanagari script

तेन मुक्तास्त्रयो बाणाश्शिताश्शत्रुनिबर्हणाः।।।।विकृष्य बलवच्चापं सुपर्णानिलनिस्स्वनाः।

Transliteration

tena muktās trayo bāṇāḥ śitāḥ śatrunibarhaṇāḥ | vikṛṣya balavac cāpaṁ suparṇānilanisvanāḥ ||

Translation

അവൻ ശക്തമായ വില്ല് വലിച്ചുകെട്ടി, ശത്രുനാശകരമായ മൂന്നു തീക്ഷ്ണബാണങ്ങൾ വിട്ടു; അവ ഗരുഡനോ കാറ്റോ പോലെയുള്ള ശബ്ദത്തോടെ പാഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• te: those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; pronoun

• bāṇāḥ: arrows
• bāṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• vajrasaṅkāśāḥ: thunderbolt-like
• vajrasaṅkāśāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'bāṇāḥ'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: vajrasya saṅkāśāḥ (like a thunderbolt)

• sumuktāḥ: well-shot
• sumuktāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'bāṇāḥ'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + √muc (मुच् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; 'well-released/skillfully shot'

• raktabhojanāḥ: blood-feeding
• raktabhojanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'bāṇāḥ'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi: raktaṃ bhojanaṃ yeṣām (blood as food)

• ājagmuḥ: came
• ājagmuḥ: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ? actually Laṅ/Perfect? Form ājagmuḥ = Liṭ (Perfect), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana; 'they came'

• sahitāḥ: together
• sahitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'bāṇāḥ'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahita (प्रातिपदिक/PPP from √sah)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; 'together'

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'bāṇāḥ'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'bāṇāḥ'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• sannataparvaṇaḥ: with strong joints
• sannataparvaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'bāṇāḥ'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sannata (प्रातिपदिक/PPP from sam+√nam) + parvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi: sannatāni parvāṇi yeṣām (having bent/strong joints)

Context

His mighty bow drawn, Rama released three sharp darts that came whizzing like Garuda or the wind. They could destroy the enemy.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• bow (cāpa)
• arrows (bāṇa)
• Garuḍa (suparṇa)
• wind (anila)

FAQs

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

Dharma as decisive protection: when confronting violent harm, righteous force is applied swiftly and effectively to end the threat.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes Rāma drawing his bow and shooting three lethal, fast-sounding arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial excellence disciplined by purpose: controlled strength aligned with protection.