Shloka 23

इन्द्रजितो यज्ञानुष्ठानं अन्तर्धानं च

Indrajit’s Rite and the Invisible Assault

Devanagari script

तौतस्यशरवेगेनपरीतौरामलक्ष्मणौ ।धनुषीसशरेकृत्वादिव्यमस्त्रंप्रचक्रतुः ।।।।

Transliteration

tau tasya śara-vegena parītau rāma-lakṣmaṇau | dhanuṣī sa-śare kṛtvā divyam astraṃ pracakratuḥ || 6.80.23 ||

Translation

അവന്റെ അമ്പുകളുടെ വേഗത്തിൽ പൊതിഞ്ഞുപോയ രാമനും ലക്ഷ്മണനും അമ്പുകളോടുകൂടിയ ധനുസ്സുകൾ എടുത്തു, മറുപടിയായി ദിവ്യവും ദീപ്തവുമായ അസ്ത്രം പ്രയോഗിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन

• शरवेगेन: by the force of arrows
• शरवेगेन: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (speed/force of arrows)

• परीतौ: covered/surrounded
• परीतौ: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-इ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण (covered/surrounded)

• रामलक्ष्मणौ: Rama and Lakshmana
• रामलक्ष्मणौ: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• धनुषी: two bows
• धनुषी: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• सशरे: with arrows
• सशरे: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; सहार्थे तत्पुरुषः (with arrows)

• कृत्वा: having made/ready
• कृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having made/arranged)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of अस्त्रम्)

• अस्त्रम्: weapon (missile)
• अस्त्रम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रचक्रतुः: they employed/set in motion
• प्रचक्रतुः: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-चक्र्/कृ (धातु; idiom: to set in motion/perform)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Covered by the speed of the arrows released on them, both Rama and Lakshmana wielding their bows and arrows discharged wonderful arrows and exhibited their power.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Indrajit (implied by 'his arrows')
• Bows

FAQs

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

Dharma here is resilient duty: even when overwhelmed, the righteous warrior responds with disciplined skill rather than panic, keeping purpose and control.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, pressed by Indrajit’s arrow-volley, prepare and deploy a powerful divine weapon to counter him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śaurya (valor) joined with kauśala (mastery of weapons) and steadiness under pressure.