Shloka 50

इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः

Indrajit’s Brahmastra Rite and the Crushing of the Vanara Host

Devanagari script

सशरैस्सूर्यसङ्काशैस्सुमुक्सैशशीघ्रगामिभिः ।।।।वानराणामनीकानिनिर्ममन्थमहारणे ।

Transliteration

sa śarais sūrya-saṅkāśaiḥ sumuktaiḥ śīghra-gāmibhiḥ |

vānarāṇām anīkāni nirmamantha mahāraṇe ||

Translation

സൂര്യസദൃശമായ ദീപ്തിയുള്ള, നന്നായി വിട്ടുവിട്ട വേഗഗാമി അമ്പുകളാൽ അവൻ മഹാസമരത്തിൽ വാനരസേനയുടെ നിരകളെ ചതച്ചുതകർത്തു.

Word by Word

• स: he
• स: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, masc.)

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: करणम् (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural, masc.)

• सूर्य-सङ्काशैः: sun-like
• सूर्य-सङ्काशैः: विशेषणम् (Adjectival to शरैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural, masc.); उपमान-विशेषणम् (comparative epithet)

• सुमुक्षैः: well-released / well-shot
• सुमुक्षैः: विशेषणम् (Adjectival to शरैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural, masc.); विशेषणम् (qualifier of शरैः)

• शीघ्र-गामिभिः: swift-moving
• शीघ्र-गामिभिः: विशेषणम् (Adjectival to शरैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीघ्र (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural, masc.); विशेषणम् (qualifier of शरैः)

• वानराणाम्: of the Vanaras
• वानराणाम्: सम्बन्धः (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Genitive plural, masc.)

• अनीकानि: armies / divisions
• अनीकानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-बहुवचनम् (Accusative plural, neut.)

• निर्ममन्थ: crushed / churned up / devastated
• निर्ममन्थ: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्थ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम् (3rd sg.) ; उपसर्गः नि: (ni-)

• महा-रणे: in the great battle
• महा-रणे: अधिकरणम् (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (Locative singular, neut.)

Context

He, with his swift moving arrows, bright like the Sun , stretching to the ear hurt many vanaras in that great war.

Characters & Entities

• Vānaras
• Indrajit (implied)

FAQs

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

It reflects the epic’s recurring lesson: brilliance and speed in action are ethically meaningful only when guided by dharma; otherwise they intensify harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit continues his arrow-storm, breaking and battering Vānara troops.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline in weapon-release (sumukti) and rapid execution—technical virtues separated from moral virtue.