Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.14 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 14

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्महति सङ्ग्रामे पुरुषान्क्षतविक्षतान्।रात्रौ प्रसुप्तान्घ्नन्ति स्म तरसाऽऽसाद्य राक्षसाः।।।।

Transliteration

tasmin mahati saṅgrāme puruṣān kṣatavikṣatān | rātrau prasuptān ghnanti sma tarasā āsādya rākṣasāḥ ||

Translation

ആ മഹാസമരത്തിൽ രാക്ഷസർ രാത്രിയിൽ വേഗത്തിൽ പാഞ്ഞെത്തി, ക്ഷതവിക്ഷതരായവരെയും നിദ്രയിൽ മുങ്ങിയവരെയും വധിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• अकरोत्: did/made (waged)
• अकरोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘युद्धम्’ विशेषणम्

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दशरथः: Daśaratha
• दशरथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक; व्यक्तिनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘राजा’ का विशेष्य (apposition)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• असुरैः: by/with asuras
• असुरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महाबाहुः: mighty-armed
• महाबाहुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबाहु (प्रातिपदिक; महा+बाहु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘दशरथः’ विशेषणम्

• शस्त्रैः: with weapons
• शस्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शकलीकृतः: shattered to pieces
• शकलीकृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शकली-कृ (धातु; नामधातु from शकली)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘(he was) shattered’

Context

That mighty asura well-known as Sambara, capable of a hundred deceitful forms, challenged Indra to a battle which could not be conquered by hosts of gods.

Characters & Entities

• rākṣasāḥ (rākṣasas)
• warriors (puruṣāḥ)

FAQs

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

It contrasts dharmic combat with adharma: attacking the sleeping and badly wounded is portrayed as ruthless, violating the spirit of righteous conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

The war turns brutal at night as rākṣasas exploit vulnerability, escalating danger for the allied forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The need for vigilance and protective responsibility toward weakened comrades.