Shloka 23

अकम्पनवधः — The Slaying of Akampana

Hanuman’s rout of the Rakshasa host

Devanagari script

गजांश्चसगजारोहान्सरथान्रथिनस्तथा ।जघानहनुमान् भीमान् राक्षसांश्चपदातिगान् ।।6.56.23।।

Transliteration

gajāṃś ca sagajārōhān sa-rathān rathinas tathā |

jaghāna hanumān bhīmān rākṣasāṃś ca padātigān ||6.56.23||

Translation

ഭീകരനായ ഹനുമാൻ ആനകളെ ആനപ്പുറക്കാരോടുകൂടി, രഥങ്ങളെ സാരഥികളോടുകൂടി, കൂടാതെ കാല്നടയായി പോരാടിയ ഭയങ്കരരാക്ഷസന്മാരെയും വധിച്ചു വീഴ്ത്തി.

Word by Word

• गजान्: elephants
• गजान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सगजारोहान्: (elephants) with riders
• सगजारोहान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगजारोह (प्रातिपदिक: स + गजारोह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ('with elephant-riders/mahouts')

• सरथान्: (those) with chariots
• सरथान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरथ (प्रातिपदिक: स + रथ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ('with chariots')

• रथिनः: chariot-warriors
• रथिनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (रथिन्-शब्दस्य द्वितीया बहुवचनम् = रथिनः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: 'likewise')

• जघान: struck down
• जघान: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: हन्; अर्थे: 'slew/struck'

• हनुमान्: Hanumān
• हनुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भीमान्: terrible
• भीमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् राक्षसान्

• राक्षसान्: rākṣasas
• राक्षसान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पदातिगान्: foot-soldiers
• पदातिगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदातिग (प्रातिपदिक: पदाति + ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ('foot-soldiers', lit. 'going on foot')

Context

Hanuman struck the mahouts, elephants, similarly the chariots and riders of chariots as well as the terrific Rakshasas who fought standing on feet.

Characters & Entities

• Hanumān
• Rākṣasas
• Elephants
• Chariots

FAQs

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

It portrays decisive neutralization of violent forces threatening the righteous mission; dharma in war can involve firm, even harsh action to end harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Hanumān devastates multiple units of Rākṣasa forces—elephants, chariots, and infantry—during the clash.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective might and effectiveness—strength applied with battlefield competence.