Shloka 85

युद्धकाण्डे एकोनषष्टितमः सर्गः

Rāvaṇa’s Assault on Nīla and Lakṣmaṇa; Hanumān Bears Rāma

Devanagari script

आग्नेयेनाधसंयुक्तंगृहीत्वारावणश्शरम् ।ध्वजशीर्षस्थितंसीलमुदैक्षतनिशाचरः ।।6.59.85।।

Transliteration

āgneyenādha saṃyuktaṃ gṛhītvā rāvaṇaḥ śaram | dhvajaśīrṣasthitaṃ nīlam udaikṣata niśācaraḥ ||6.59.85||

Translation

അഗ്നേയശക്തിയാൽ സംയുക്തമായ അമ്പ് കൈയിൽ എടുത്ത്, ധ്വജത്തിന്റെ ശിഖരത്തിൽ നിലകൊണ്ടിരുന്ന നീലനിലേക്കു നിശാചരനായ രാവണൻ ദൃഷ്ടി പതിപ്പിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• āgneyena: with the fiery (Agni) [power]
• āgneyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgneya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; used adjectivally with implied astreṇa/tejasā

• adha-saṃyuktam: fitted/attached below
• adha-saṃyuktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adha (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyukta (saṃ-√yuj क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; अव्ययीभावः ‘joined below/at the lower part’ qualifying śaram

• gṛhītvā: having taken
• gṛhītvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable; ‘having taken’

• rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana
• rāvaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• śaram: arrow
• śaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• dhvaja-śīrṣa-sthitam: standing on the flagstaff-top
• dhvaja-śīrṣa-sthitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + śīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sthita (√sthā क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘standing on the flagstaff-top’ qualifying nīlam

• nīlam: Neela
• nīlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• udaikṣata: looked at
• udaikṣata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person, Singular, Ātmanepada

• niśācaraḥ: the night-ranger (demon)
• niśācaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to rāvaṇaḥ

Context

And then the night ranger Ravana taking up, fitting the arrow charged with fire, looked at Neela resting on top of the bow.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Nīla
• arrow (śara)
• dhvaja (standard)

FAQs

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

Power must be directed with discernment; dharma questions whether escalating to destructive astras is justified by necessity rather than pride.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa prepares a fire-charged missile and aims at Nīla perched atop his standard.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Focused determination (in Rāvaṇa’s action), though framed within a larger ethical concern about misuse of extraordinary weapons.