Valmiki Ramayana 6.49.21 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 21

शरबन्धनविलापः

The Lament under the Net of Arrows

Devanagari script

अस्स्रैरस्त्राणियोहन्याच्छक्रस्यापिमहात्मनः ।सोऽयमुर्व्यांहतश्शेतेमहार्हशयनोचितः ।।6.49.21।।

Transliteration

astrair astrāṇi yo hanyāc chakrasyāpi mahātmanaḥ |

so 'yam urvyāṃ hataḥ śete mahārhaśayanocitaḥ ||6.49.21||

Translation

മഹാത്മാവായ ഇന്ദ്രന്റെ ആയുധങ്ങളെയും തന്റെ ആയുധങ്ങളാൽ തകർക്കാൻ കഴിയുന്നവൻ—മഹാർഹ ശയ്യയ്ക്ക് യോജ്യനായ അവൻ ഇന്ന് ഭൂമിയിൽ വധിക്കപ്പെട്ട് കിടക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• astraiḥ: with weapons
• astraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचनम्

• astrāṇi: weapons
• astrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• yaḥ: he who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धबोधकः (relative pronoun)

• hanyāt: would destroy/kill
• hanyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• śakrasya: of Indra
• śakrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचनम्

• api: even
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अपि = even/also (समुच्चय/अतिशय)

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled
• mahātmanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying śakrasya)

• saḥ: that (man), he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; संकेत/अन्वय (correlative)

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; निकटवाचक (this)

• urvyām: on the ground
• urvyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: urvī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचनम्

• hataḥ: killed, slain
• hataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि (killed)

• śete: lies
• śete: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śī (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• mahārhaśayanocitaḥ: fit for a splendid bed
• mahārhaśayanocitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahārha (प्रातिपदिक) + śayana (प्रातिपदिक) + ucita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; समासः—महārhaṃ śayanaṃ yasya/mahārhaśayane ucitaḥ (fit for a costly bed)

Context

"I have not made Vibheeshana as the king of Rakshasas. Because of that untruth utterance they want to consume me, no doubt."

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Indra

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the tragedy that even the most worthy can suffer in war; dharma requires compassion, humility, and perseverance when fate turns harsh.

What is the narrative situation?

A lament is voiced over Lakṣmaṇa’s condition—one so great now lying on the ground after being struck down.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Nobility and worthiness (ārjava/mahatva) recognized by allies even in apparent defeat.