Shloka 17

अक्षवधः (The Slaying of Prince Aksha)

Sundarakāṇḍa Sarga 47

Devanagari script

स मन्दराग्रस्थ इवांशुमालिको विवृद्धकोपो बलवीर्यसंयुतः।कुमारमक्षं सबलं सवाहनं ददाह नेत्राग्निमरीचिभिस्तदा।।5.47.17।।

Transliteration

sa mandarāgra-stha ivāṁśumāliko vivṛddha-kopo bala-vīrya-saṁyutaḥ |

kumāram akṣaṁ sa-balaṁ sa-vāhanaṁ dadāha netrāgni-marīcibhis tadā || 5.47.17 ||

Translation

കോപം വർദ്ധിച്ചു, ബലവും വീര്യവും പൂർണ്ണമായി ഉണർന്ന ഹനുമാൻ മന്ദരശിഖരത്തിൽ നില്ക്കുന്ന സൂര്യനെപ്പോലെ തോന്നി; പിന്നെ തന്റെ നേത്രാഗ്നിയുടെ കിരണങ്ങളാൽ സൈന്യവും വാഹനങ്ങളും സഹിതം കുമാരൻ അക്ഷനെ ദഹിപ്പിച്ചതുപോലെ ആയി.

Word by Word

सःhe (Hanuman)

मन्दराग्रस्थःstanding on Mandara’s peak

इवas if / like

अंशुमालिकःthe sun (ray-garlanded one)

विवृद्धकोपःwith anger greatly increased

बलवीर्यसंयुतःendowed with strength and valor

कुमारम्the prince

अक्षम्Aksha

सबलम्with his forces / accompanied by an army

सवाहनम्with vehicles/chariots (mounted/with conveyances)

ददाहburned / consumed

नेत्राग्निमरीचिभिःwith the rays of the fire of (his) eyes

तदाthen

Context

Huge Hanuman, endowed with strength and valour looked like the rising Sun on the peak of mount Mandara. He looked at prince Aksha and his army as well as his vehicles as though he was burning them with the rays emerging from his fiery eyes.

Characters & Entities

Hanumān

Akṣa (Akṣa-kumāra)

Mandara (mountain)

Āditya (Sun)

FAQs

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

Anger, when governed by a righteous aim, becomes a force for restoring dharma rather than mere vengeance. Hanumān’s intensity is framed as protection of a just mission, not cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

As the duel escalates, Hanumān’s presence becomes terrifying; the text depicts him as sun-like, as though scorching Akṣa and his forces with his gaze.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tejas (spiritual/martial radiance) and unwavering resolve in the service of a higher duty.