Shloka 5

शक्तिप्रहारः

Ravana’s Shakti Javelin and Lakshmana’s Wounding

Devanagari script

तदस्त्रंराघव्श्रीमानुत्तमास्त्रविदांवरः ।जघानपरमास्त्रणगान्धर्वेणमहाद्युतिः ।।।।

Transliteration

tad astraṃ rāghavaḥ śrīmān uttamāstravidāṃ varaḥ |

jaghāna paramāstreṇa gāndharveṇa mahādyutiḥ ||

Translation

മഹാദ്യുതിയോടെ ദീപ്തനായ ശ്രീമാൻ രാഘവൻ—അസ്ത്രവിദ്യയിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ—ആ അസ്ത്രത്തെ പരമമായ ഗാന്ധർവ അസ്ത്രംകൊണ്ട് നിഷ്ഫലമാക്കി.

Word by Word

तत्that

अस्त्रम्missile, weapon

राघवःRāghava (Rama)

श्रीमान्glorious, illustrious

उत्तमास्त्रविदाम्of the best weapon-knowers

वरःthe foremost

जघानstruck down, neutralized

परमास्त्राणिsupreme missiles

गान्धर्वेणby the Gāndharva (weapon/spell)

महाद्युतिःof great splendour

Context

"O Vanaras! I take this truthful vow now in your presence. In a short while you will be seeing the world devoid of Ravana or devoid of Rama."

Characters & Entities

Rāma (Rāghava)

Rāvaṇa (implied as the opponent whose missile is countered)

FAQs

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

It reflects kṣātra-dharma: disciplined, proportionate use of power—Rāma counters a hostile weapon with rightful skill rather than uncontrolled violence.

What is the narrative situation?

In the climactic battle, Rāma answers an incoming weapon (associated with Rāvaṇa) by deploying a superior counter-weapon.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mastery with restraint: Rāma’s trained competence and composure under threat.