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Shloka 10

इन्द्रजित्प्रेषणम्—ब्रह्मास्त्रबन्धः, हनूमद्ग्रहणं, रावणसभाप्रवेशः

Indrajit’s Deployment—Brahmāstra Binding, Hanuman’s Capture, Entry into Ravana’s Court

बलावमर्थस्तयि सन्निकृष्टे यथा गते शाम्यति शान्तशत्रौ।तथा समीक्ष्यात्मबलं परं च समारभस्वास्त्रविदां वरिष्ठ।।।।

balāvamarthaḥ tvayi sannikṛṣṭe yathā gate śāmyati śāntaśatrau | tathā samīkṣyātmabalaṃ paraṃ ca samārabhasvāstravidāṃ variṣṭha ||

ഹേ അസ്ത്രവിദ്യയിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനേ! നീ അടുത്തുചേരുമ്പോൾ ശത്രുവിന്റെ ബലം നന്നായി അളന്ന്, അധിക നാശം വരാതെ അവനെ ശമിപ്പിക്ക; നിന്റെ ബലവും ശത്രുവിന്റെ ബലവും തൂക്കി നോക്കി, പിന്നെ യുദ്ധം ആരംഭിക്ക.

balāvamarthaḥassessment of strength
balāvamarthaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbala (बल) + avamartha (अवमर्थ प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बलस्य अवमर्थः = assessment/estimate of strength)
tvayiin you/when you
tvayi:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootyusmad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
sannikṛṣṭebeing close/approached
sannikṛṣṭe:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-ni-kṛṣ (सम्+नि+कृष् धातु)
Formक्त (past passive participle), सप्तमी एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक (context: tvayi); 'when (you are) near/approached'
yathāas
yathā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उपमान/रीति (as/in the manner that)
gatehaving gone
gate:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootgam (गम् धातु)
Formक्त (past passive participle), सप्तमी एकवचन; 'when (you have) gone'
śāmyatisubsides/ceases
śāmyati:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootśam (शम् धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
śāntaśatrauin the subduer of enemies
śāntaśatrau:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootśānta (शान्त) + śatru (शत्रु प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (शान्ताः शत्रवो यस्य = one whose enemies are subdued)
tathāso/thus
tathā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; 'thus/in that way'
samīkṣyahaving examined
samīkṣya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-īkṣ (सम्+ईक्ष् धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल
ātma-balamyour own strength
ātma-balam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootātman (आत्मन्) + bala (बल)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः बलम्)
paramthe other/enemy’s
param:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootpara (पर प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (implicit: balaṃ)
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय (conjunction)
samārabhasvabegin/undertake
samārabhasva:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-ā-rabh (सम्+आ+रभ् धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
astravidāmof weapon-experts
astravidām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootastra-vid (अस्त्रविद् प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अस्त्राणि वेत्ति = knower of weapons)
variṣṭhaO best
variṣṭha:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootvariṣṭha (वरिष्ठ प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; superlative

"O warrior of extraordinary merit among the wielders of astras ! asses your strength approach the enemy in a manner by which he is subdued without causing further destruction to our army. Carefully measure your own strength and your enemy's before you start fighting.

R
Rāvaṇa
I
Indrajit (Meghanāda)
A
astras (divine missiles/weapons)

FAQs

Measured use of force: a warrior should assess strength and act so the threat is subdued without needless destruction—an aspect of rājadharma (responsible governance in war).

Rāvaṇa commissions Indrajit to confront Hanumān and advises him to proceed strategically after assessing relative strength.

Prudence and strategic restraint—victory sought through discernment rather than reckless escalation.