Shloka 4

धूम्राक्षवधः

The Slaying of Dhumrākṣa

Devanagari script

राक्षसास्त्वभिसङ्क्रुद्धावानरान्निशितैश्शरैः ।विव्यथुर्घोरसङ्काशैःकङ्कपत्रैरजिह्मगैः ।।6.52.4।।

Transliteration

rākṣasās tv abhisaṅkruddhā vānarān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |

vivyathur ghora-saṅkāśaiḥ kaṅka-patrair ajihmagaiḥ ||6.52.4||

Translation

കോപിതരായ രാക്ഷസർ വാനരന്മാരെ മൂർച്ചയുള്ള അമ്പുകളാൽ കുത്തിത്തുളച്ചു—ഭീകരദർശനമായ, കഴുകൻപക്ഷിപ്പിറകുകളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ട, ലക്ഷ്യത്തിലേക്ക് നേരെ പറക്കുന്നവ.

Word by Word

• राक्षसाः: rākṣasas
• राक्षसाः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/पक्षान्तरे (adversative particle)

• अभिसङ्क्रुद्धाः: highly enraged
• अभिसङ्क्रुद्धाः: विशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-सम्-√क्रुध् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; राक्षसाः इति विशेषणम्

• वानरान्: monkeys
• वानरान्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• निशितैः: sharp
• निशितैः: करण-विशेषण (instrumental qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; शरैः इति विशेषणम्

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• विव्यथुः: tormented, struck hard
• विव्यथुः: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√व्यथ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• घोरसङ्काशैः: dreadful-looking
• घोरसङ्काशैः: करण-विशेषण (instrumental qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर-सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; (शरैः) इति विशेषणम्

• कङ्कपत्रैः: with heron-feathered (arrows)
• कङ्कपत्रैः: करण-विशेषण (instrumental qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कङ्क-पत्र (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; शरैः इति विशेषणम्; (कङ्कस्य पत्राणि इव)

• अजिह्मगैः: straight-flying, undeviating
• अजिह्मगैः: करण-विशेषण (instrumental qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-जिह्म-ग (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; शरैः इति विशेषणम्; (जिह्मं न गच्छन्ति = not deviating/straight-going)

Context

That fierce mace fell on Hanuman's head. Hanuman who was equal to wind god without caring for the hit dropped the peak of the mountain on the centre of Dhumraksha's head.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Vānaras

FAQs

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

The verse frames the battlefield as a test of steadiness under aggression: dharma here is not rage itself, but disciplined endurance and rightful resistance when attacked.

What is the narrative situation?

As the battle intensifies, the rākṣasas launch a focused arrow-assault on the vānaras.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fortitude under pressure—holding one’s ground when faced with a terrifying, well-aimed attack.