Shloka 38

षट्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः

Ravana Deploys Five Generals; Hanuman Destroys the Commanders and the Remaining Host

Devanagari script

हतैर्नागैश्च तुरगैर्भग्नाक्षैश्च महारथैः।।।।हतैश्च राक्षसैर्भूमी रुद्धमार्गा समन्ततः।

Transliteration

hatair nāgaiś ca turagair bhagnākṣaiś ca mahārathaiḥ |

hataiś ca rākṣasair bhūmī ruddhamārgā samantataḥ ||

Translation

വധിക്കപ്പെട്ട ആനകളും കുതിരകളും, അച്ചുകൾ തകർന്ന മഹാരഥരുടെ രഥങ്ങളും, വീണുകിടന്ന രാക്ഷസന്മാരും കൊണ്ട് ഭൂമി എല്ലാടവും നിറഞ്ഞു; വഴികൾ ചുറ്റുമെല്ലാം തടസ്സപ്പെട്ടു.

Word by Word

• hataiḥ: with slain (ones)
• hataiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √han (धातु) + kta (क्त) / hata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past participle (क्त-कृदन्त) used adjectivally; Instrumental, Plural, Masculine/Neuter (context: with nāgaiḥ etc.)

• nāgaiḥ: with elephants
• nāgaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• turagaiḥ: with horses
• turagaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: turaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• bhagnākṣaiḥ: with broken axles
• bhagnākṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagna (√bhañj + kta) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; karmadhāraya: "bhagnāḥ akṣāḥ yeṣām" (with broken axles)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• mahārathaiḥ: with great chariots
• mahārathaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; karmadhāraya: "mahāntaḥ rathāḥ" / "great chariots"

• hataiḥ: with slain
• hataiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √han + kta / hata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past participle used adjectivally; Instrumental, Plural, Masculine

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• rākṣasaiḥ: with rākṣasas
• rākṣasaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• bhūmī: the ground
• bhūmī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st), Singular

• ruddhamārgā: with paths obstructed
• ruddhamārgā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ruddha (√rudh + kta) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya: "ruddhaḥ mārgaḥ yasyāḥ" (whose paths are blocked)

• samantataḥ: all around
• samantataḥ: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) = "on all sides"

Context

There was no path (one could not move forward) with elephants, and horses killed and with broken axles of great chariots and smashed chariots spread all over the way.

Characters & Entities

• rākṣasas
• elephants (nāga)
• horses (turaga)
• chariots (mahāratha)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the consequence of adharma-driven aggression: violence rebounds upon the aggressor, leaving destruction that obstructs all progress.

What is the narrative situation?

The battlefield becomes impassable due to the mass of dead animals, broken chariots, and fallen rākṣasas after Hanumān’s assault.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indirectly, Hanumān’s overwhelming capability; directly, the warning that unrighteous conflict yields collective ruin.