Shloka 37

शक्तिप्रहारः

Ravana’s Shakti Javelin and Lakshmana’s Wounding

Devanagari script

तदवस्थंसमीपस्थोलक्ष्मणंप्रेक्ष्यराघवः ।भ्रातृस्नेहान्महातेजाविषण्णहृदयोऽभवत् ।।।।

Transliteration

tadavasthaṃ samīpastho lakṣmaṇaṃ prekṣya rāghavaḥ | bhrātṛsnehān mahātejā viṣaṇṇahṛdayo 'bhavat ||

Translation

അവസ്ഥയിൽ സമീപത്ത് കിടന്ന ലക്ഷ്മണനെ കണ്ട മഹാതേജസ്വിയായ രാഘവൻ, സഹോദരസ്നേഹത്താൽ ഹൃദയം ദുഃഖഭാരിതനായി.

Word by Word

• तदवस्थम्: that condition/state
• तदवस्थम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (tad-avasthā), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्म—प्रेक्ष्य (having seen that condition)

• समीपस्थः: standing nearby
• समीपस्थः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समीप + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (samīpe sthitaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—राघवः

• लक्ष्मणम्: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रेक्ष्य: having seen
• प्रेक्ष्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ईक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), 'having seen'

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भ्रातृस्नेहात्: from brotherly affection
• भ्रातृस्नेहात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Cause-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ + स्नेह (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (bhrātuḥ snehaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

• महातेजाः: of great splendor/valor
• महातेजाः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महातेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (mahā + tejas), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—राघवः

• विषण्णहृदयः: despondent-hearted
• विषण्णहृदयः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषण्ण + हृदय (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (viṣaṇṇaṃ hṛdayaṃ yasya), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—राघवः; 'विषण्ण' = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from सद्/षद् (to sink) in sense 'dejected'

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Thereafter, Lakshmana fell on the ground, pierced by the javelin, deep into the heart from far with great force by Ravana.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma includes humaneness: righteous conduct does not deny grief. Rāma’s sorrow shows compassion and fidelity to familial duty even amid war.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma looks upon the wounded Lakṣmaṇa nearby and is overcome with grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Brotherly devotion (bhrātṛ-sneha) and deep compassion.