Valmiki Ramayana 6.88.10 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 88, Shloka 10

इन्द्रजित्–लक्ष्मण संवादः तथा युद्धप्रवृत्तिः

Indrajit and Lakshmana: War-Boasts, Rebuke, and the Clash

Devanagari script

रात्रियुद्धेमयापूर्वंवज्राशनिसमैःशरैः ।।।।शायितौस्थोमयाभूमौविसंज्ञौसपुरस्सरौ ।

Transliteration

rātriyuddhe mayā pūrvaṃ vajrāśanisamaiḥ śaraiḥ | śāyitau stho mayā bhūmau visaṃjñau sapurassarau || 6.88.10 ||

Translation

രാത്രിയുദ്ധത്തിൽ ഞാൻ മുമ്പേ വജ്രാശനിപോലെ ഭയങ്കരമായ അമ്പുകളാൽ നിന്നെയും നിന്റെ സഹചാരിയെയും വീഴ്ത്തി, ഭൂമിയിൽ ബോധംകെട്ടു കിടത്തിയിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• रात्रियुद्धे: in the night-battle
• रात्रियुद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri + yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रात्रौ युद्धम्)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr̥/Instrument (कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: earlier
• पूर्वम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrvam (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly/earlier)

• वज्राशनिसमैः: with (arrows) like thunderbolt and lightning
• वज्राशनिसमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra + aśani + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वज्राशनिभिः समाः = like thunderbolt and lightning)

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शायितौ: (you two) were laid low
• शायितौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāyita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √śī (धातु) causative √śāy)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) — ‘laid down’

• स्थः: you two were
• स्थः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु; √as ‘to be’)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम्; ‘you two are/were’ (context past narrative)

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr̥/Instrument (कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विसंज्ञौ: unconscious
• विसंज्ञौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + saṃjña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (unconscious)

• सपुरस्सरौ: you two, with your companion/leader
• सपुरस्सरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa + purassara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; सह-तत्पुरुषः (पुरस्सरेण सह = with your leader/companion)

Context

"Earlier in the war at night, by the thunderbolt like arrows released by me on the Earth, you and your accomplice were made unconscious and laid low."

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Lakshmana
• arrows (śara)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates pride and intimidation as adharma-adjacent impulses: boasting over past advantage (especially in night fighting) contrasts with the ideal of honorable, measured speech.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit taunts Lakṣmaṇa by recalling an earlier episode in the night war when Lakṣmaṇa and another were rendered unconscious.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negatively, arrogance (mada) is displayed; the implied virtue is humility and restraint in victory.