Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 30

वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra

Angada’s Duel

Devanagari script

जग्राहचार्षभंचर्मखडगंचविपुलंशुभम् ।।6.54.30।।किङ्किणाजालसञ्छन्नंचर्मणाचपरिष्कृतम् ।

Transliteration

jagrāha cārṣabhaṁ carma khaḍgaṁ ca vipulaṁ śubham |

kiṅkiṇījālasañchannaṁ carmaṇā ca pariṣkṛtam |

Translation

അവൻ വിശാലവും ശുഭ്രമായി തിളങ്ങുന്നതുമായ ഖഡ്ഗവും, വൃഷഭചർമത്തിൽ നിന്നുള്ള പരിചയും പിടിച്ചു—കിങ്കിണികളുടെ ജാലം മൂടിയതും, ചർമപ്രവർത്തനത്തോടെ മനോഹരമായി തീർത്തതും।

Word by Word

• jagrāha: seized
• jagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• ārṣabham: made of bull-hide
• ārṣabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying carma: ‘of bull-hide’)

• carmam: shield/leather (hide)
• carmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• khaḍgam: sword
• khaḍgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• vipulam: large
• vipulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying khaḍgam/carmam by context)

• śubham: splendid
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• kiṅkiṇī-jāla-sañchannam: covered with a mesh of bells
• kiṅkiṇī-jāla-sañchannam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kiṅkiṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक) + sañchanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (covered with a net of small bells)

• carmaṇā: with leather
• carmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• pariṣkṛtam: well-finished/encased
• pariṣkṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√kṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Context

(The Rakshasa seized) a huge bright sword, a shield decorated with tiny bells and sword encased in hide sheath.

Characters & Entities

• Vajradaṁṣṭra
• khaḍga (sword)

FAQs

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

The verse implies that external equipment cannot replace inner righteousness. Dharma emphasizes intention and cause; splendid arms may serve either dharma or adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

The rākṣasa re-arms himself, taking up sword and shield to continue the duel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial readiness and determination (though directed by anger, as earlier stated).