Shloka 5

अक्षवधः (The Slaying of Prince Aksha)

Sundarakāṇḍa Sarga 47

Devanagari script

सुरासुराधृष्यमसङ्गचारिणं रविप्रभं व्योमचरं समाहितम्।सतूणमष्टासिनिबद्धबन्धुरं यथाक्रमावेशितशक्तितोमरम्।।5.47.5।।

Transliteration

surāsurādhṛṣyam asaṅgacāriṇaṃ raviprabhaṃ vyomacaraṃ samāhitam |

satūṇam aṣṭāsinibaddhabandhuraṃ yathākramāveśitaśaktitomaram ||5.47.5||

Translation

ദേവന്മാർക്കും അസുരന്മാർക്കും അജേയമായ, അസംഗമായി സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്ന, സൂര്യപ്രഭപോലെ ദീപ്തമായും ആകാശത്തിൽ വിഹരിക്കുന്നതുമായ ആ രഥം പൂർണ്ണമായി സജ്ജമായിരുന്നു—തൂണികളോടുകൂടി, എട്ട് വാളുകൾ ഘടിപ്പിച്ച മനോഹരമായ ബന്ധനങ്ങളോടെ, ക്രമാനുസൃതമായി വെച്ച ശക്തിയും തോമരവും (കുന്തം-ഗദ) ഉൾക്കൊണ്ടതും.

Word by Word

• सुरासुराधृष्यम्: unassailable by suras and asuras
• सुरासुराधृष्यम्: Karma (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर + असुर + अधृष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (कर्मपद-विशेषणम्)

• असङ्गचारिणम्: moving without contact/attachment (not touching the ground)
• असङ्गचारिणम्: Karma (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असङ्ग + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• रविप्रभम्: having the radiance of the sun
• रविप्रभम्: Karma (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रवि + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• व्योमचरम्: moving in the sky; flying
• व्योमचरम्: Karma (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्योमन् + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• समाहितम्: well-arranged; properly equipped/ready
• समाहितम्: Karma (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + धा (धातु) → समाहित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोगः; विशेषणम्

• सतूणम्: with quivers
• सतूणम्: Karma (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + तूण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• अष्टासिनिबद्धबन्धुरम्: adorned/secured with eight swords fastened on
• अष्टासिनिबद्धबन्धुरम्: Karma (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + असि + निबद्ध + बन्धुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; बहुपद-समासः; विशेषणम्

• यथाक्रमावेशितशक्तितोमरम्: with javelins and maces placed in proper order
• यथाक्रमावेशितशक्तितोमरम्: Karma (object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा + क्रम + आवेशित (आ + विश् धातु → क्त) + शक्ति + तोमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः एकवचनम्; बहुपद-समासः; (यथा-क्रम) अव्ययीभावपूर्वक-तत्पुरुषसमास-समुच्चयः; विशेषणम्

Context

(The chariot) was unassailable to suras or asuras.It moved without touching the ground, it could fly in air and had the splendour of the Sun. It was equipped readily with quivers, eight swords, javelins and clubs placed in right order.

Characters & Entities

• Akṣa (implied—his chariot)
• Suras
• Asuras

FAQs

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

Dharma teaching is indirect: immense capability and weaponry can exist on the side of adharma; righteousness is not measured by invincibility but by alignment with truth and justice.

What is the narrative situation?

The poet intensifies the scene by detailing the chariot’s supernatural mobility and armament before the battle unfolds.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Readiness and order (properly arranged weapons) as a martial trait—though morally neutral until directed by righteous intent.