Shloka 17

सुपर्णागमनम्

Garuda’s Arrival and the Release from the Serpent-Arrow Bond

Devanagari script

शरैरिमावलंविद्धौरुधिरेणसमुक्षितौ ।वसुधायामिमौसुप्तौदृश्येतेशल्यकाविव ।।6.50.17।।

Transliteration

śarair imāv alaṃ viddhau rudhireṇa samukṣitau |

vasudhāyām imau suptau dṛśyete śalyakāv iva ||

Translation

അമ്പുകളാൽ എല്ലാടവും കുത്തേറ്റും രക്തത്തിൽ നനഞ്ഞും, ഈ ഇരുവരും ഭൂമിയിൽ നിദ്രിക്കുന്നവരായി ദൃശ്യമാകുന്നു—ശല്യകങ്ങൾപോലെ (മുള്ളൻപന്നികൾപോലെ).

Word by Word

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental plural

• इमौ: these two
• इमौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative dual

• अलम्: thoroughly
• अलम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: alam (अव्यय)
• Form: पर्याप्ति/अतिशय-अव्यय; intensifier “fully, exceedingly”

• विद्धौ: pierced
• विद्धौ: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यध्/विध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; past participle “pierced” (predicate of इमौ)

• रुधिरेण: with blood
• रुधिरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudhira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Neuter, Instrumental singular

• समुक्षितौ: drenched
• समुक्षितौ: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; past participle “sprinkled/drenched” (predicate of इमौ)

• वसुधायाम्: on the ground
• वसुधायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Feminine, Locative singular

• इमौ: these two
• इमौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative dual

• सुप्तौ: lying asleep
• सुप्तौ: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; past participle “sleeping/lying as if asleep”

• दृश्येते: appear/are seen
• दृश्येते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; Present, 3rd person dual; passive/medio-passive sense “are seen/appear”

• शल्यकौ: porcupines
• शल्यकौ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śalyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; Masculine, Nominative dual; upamāna (object of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय; particle of comparison

Context

"Pierced with arrows, fully covered with blood, the bodies of the two princes appear like porcupines sleeping on the ground."

Characters & Entities

• Vibhīṣaṇa
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Arrows (śara)
• Earth (vasudhā)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the cost of adharma in war and evokes compassion; dharma calls the community to protect the righteous and resist cruelty and treachery.

What is the narrative situation?

Vibhīṣaṇa describes the grievous state of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, pierced by arrows and lying motionless on the ground.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vibhīṣaṇa’s empathy and moral urgency—he refuses to normalize suffering inflicted through deceit.