Shloka 25

धूम्राक्षवधः

The Slaying of Dhumrākṣa

Devanagari script

धूम्राक्षस्तुधनुष्पाणिर्वानरान्रणमूर्धनि ।हसन्विद्रावयामासदिशस्तुशरवृष्टिभिः ।।6.52.25।।

Transliteration

dhūmrākṣas tu dhanuṣpāṇir vānarān raṇamūrdhani | hasan vidrāvayāmāsa diśas tu śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ ||6.52.25||

Translation

ധൂമ്രാക്ഷൻ ധനുസ്സ് കൈയിൽ പിടിച്ച് യുദ്ധത്തിന്റെ മുൻനിരയിൽ, ചിരിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് അമ്പുകളുടെ മഴ പെയ്ത്ത് വാനരസൈന്യത്തെ എല്ലാ ദിക്കുകളിലേക്കും ചിതറിച്ചു ഓടിച്ചു.

Word by Word

धूम्राक्षःDhumraksha

तुbut/indeed

धनुः-पाणिःhaving a bow in hand

वानरान्the Vanaras

रण-मूर्धनिat the battle-front

हसन्laughing

विद्रावयामासcaused to scatter/drove away

दिशःto the directions

तुindeed

शर-वृष्टिभिःwith showers of arrows

Context

Dhumraksha with his bow in hand, showering arrows, laughing in battlefront dispersed the Vanaras in directions.

Characters & Entities

Dhūmrākṣa

Vānara (Vanaras)

Śara (arrows)

FAQs

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

The verse cautions against cruelty and arrogance in violence: laughter while causing suffering signals adharma (moral disorder), contrasting with the restrained seriousness expected in righteous conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Dhūmrākṣa takes an aggressive lead position and uses sustained arrow volleys to break Vanara formations and force dispersal.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

For Dhūmrākṣa, tactical aggression and confidence; by contrast, the verse implicitly values the Vanaras’ need to regroup with discipline rather than panic.