Shloka 32

शक्तिप्रहारः

Ravana’s Shakti Javelin and Lakshmana’s Wounding

Devanagari script

साक्षिप्ताभीमवेगेनवज्राशनिसमस्वना ।शक्तिरभ्यपतद्वेगाल्लक्ष्मणंरणमूर्धनि ।।।।

Transliteration

sākṣiptā bhīmavegena vajrāśanisamasvanā | śaktir abhyapatad vegāl lakṣmaṇaṃ raṇamūrdhani ||

Translation

ഭയങ്കര വേഗത്തിൽ എറിഞ്ഞ, വജ്രാഘാതംപോലെ മുഴങ്ങുന്ന ശബ്ദമുള്ള ആ ശക്തി, യുദ്ധത്തിന്റെ മുൻനിരയിൽ ലക്ഷ്മണന്റെ നേരെ അതിവേഗം പാഞ്ഞുവന്നു.

Word by Word

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma; object of ‘anuvyāharat’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुव्याहरत्: called out
• अनुव्याहरत्: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-vi-ā-√hṛ (धातु √हृ/√हृ ‘to utter/call out’; here √हृ in sense of ‘vyāhar’ = speak)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘uttered (after/along)’

• शक्तिम्: the javelin
• शक्तिम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (apposition to ‘tām’)

• आपतन्तीम्: coming toward
• आपतन्तीम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of ‘śaktim’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√pat (धातु √पत्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘coming/falling towards’

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवः: कर्ता (Kartā; apposition to ‘saḥ’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वस्ति: well-being / auspiciousness
• स्वस्ति: आशीः/मङ्गल (benediction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svasti (अव्यय)
• Form: मङ्गल-निपात (benedictive particle)

• अस्तु: let it be
• अस्तु: क्रिया (benedictive verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु √अस्)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative/benedictive command), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘let there be’

• लक्ष्मणाय: for Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna; beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थ-निपात (quotative)

• मोघा: futile
• मोघा: सम्बोधनार्थ-प्रथमा (predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (addressing the śaktiḥ) ‘be futile’

• भव: be
• भव: क्रिया (imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु √भू)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘become/be’

• हतोद्यमा: with its effort thwarted
• हतोद्यमा: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of implied ‘śaktiḥ’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata + udyamā (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: हतः उद्यमः यस्याः = ‘whose effort is destroyed’

Context

Enraged Ravana, having spoken in this manner, hurled the javelin adorned with eight bells making loud noise, designed magically by Maya, a stupendous one capable of destroying any enemy, which was glowing with shine, aiming at Lakshmana, and roared aloud.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• śakti (spear/javelin)
• vajra (thunderbolt)

FAQs

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

Dharma in warfare includes steadfastness and courage at one’s post; Lakṣmaṇa is depicted at the forefront, meeting danger without retreat.

What is the narrative situation?

The spear thrown by Rāvaṇa speeds toward Lakṣmaṇa with thunderous force.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s frontline valor (śaurya) and duty-bound presence in the most dangerous position.