Shloka 9

धूम्राक्षवधः

The Slaying of Dhumrākṣa

Devanagari script

तद्भभूवाद्भुतंघोरंयुद्धंवानररक्षसाम् ।शिलाभिर्विविधाभिश्चबहुभिश्चैवपादपैः ।।6.52.9।।

Transliteration

tad babhūv adbhutaṃ ghoraṃ yuddhaṃ vānararakṣasām |

śilābhir vividhābhiś ca bahubhiś caiva pādapaiḥ ||6.52.9||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ വാനരന്മാരും രാക്ഷസന്മാരും തമ്മിൽ അത്ഭുതകരവും ഭയാനകവുമായ യുദ്ധം ഉദിച്ചു; പലവിധ പാറകളും അനവധി വൃക്ഷങ്ങളും ആയുധങ്ങളായി ഉപയോഗിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (battle)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Pronoun; Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• बभूव: became / occurred
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful
• अद्भुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचनम् (Singular); विशेषण of युद्धम्

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचनम् (Singular); विशेषण of युद्धम्

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Nom/Acc, Singular)

• वानर-रक्षसाम्: of the vanaras and rakshasas
• वानर-रक्षसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक) + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः (वानराश्च राक्षसाश्च); षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• शिलाभिः: with rocks
• शिलाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• विविधाभिः: of various kinds
• विविधाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचनम् (Plural); विशेषण of शिलाभिः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• बहुभिः: with many
• बहुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-प्रयोगे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; here agreeing with पादपैः (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed / also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle of emphasis)

• पादपैः: with trees
• पादपैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

Context

Highly enraged Rakshasas on their part fixed the Vanaras with sharp dreadful arrows with itching feathers.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Rākṣasas
• Rocks (śilā)
• Trees (pādapa)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the gravity of conflict: even when fought for dharma, war remains ghora (terrible), inviting reflection on restraint and the cost of adharma that necessitates such battle.

What is the narrative situation?

A climactic phase of fighting erupts, with improvised weapons—stones and trees—dominating the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective valor and resourcefulness—using available means to uphold the mission against oppressive force.