Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 89, Shloka 24

इन्द्रजित्–लक्ष्मणयोर् घोरः शरयुद्धः

Indrajit and Lakshmana’s Fierce Exchange of Arrows

Devanagari script

सुदीर्घकालंतौवीरावन्योन्यनिशितैःशरैः ।ततक्षतुर्महात्मानौरणकर्मविहारदौ ।।6.89.24।।

Transliteration

sudīrghakālaṃ tau vīrāv anyonyaniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | tatakṣatur mahātmānau raṇakarmavihāradau ||6.89.24||

Translation

ദീർഘകാലം ആ മഹാത്മാക്കളായ രണ്ടു വീരന്മാർ, യുദ്ധകലയിൽ നിപുണർ, പരസ്പരം മൂർച്ചയുള്ള ശരങ്ങളാൽ തമ്മിൽ തമ്മിൽ കീറിക്കൊണ്ടിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• sudīrghakālam: for a very long time
• sudīrghakālam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: su- (उपसर्ग) + dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (सु + दीर्घकालम्), द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण कालवाचक-अव्यय (for a very long time)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nominative, Dual)

• vīrau: heroes
• vīrau: Apposition (समानााधिकरण/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nominative, Dual)

• anyonyam: each other
• anyonyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (mutually)

• niśitaiḥ: sharp
• niśitaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental, Plural)

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

• tatakṣatuḥ: struck/tore
• tatakṣatuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: takṣ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन (3rd person dual)

• mahātmānau: the two great-souled ones
• mahātmānau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् आत्मा यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nominative, Dual)

• raṇakarmavihāradau: skilled/active in the acts of battle
• raṇakarmavihāradau: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + karma (प्रातिपदिक) + vihāra (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (रणकर्मणि विहारः येषां तौ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Dual)

Context

Both heroes, being experts in fighting, tore each other with sharp arrows for long.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Indrajit

FAQs

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

Dharma here is disciplined perseverance: the narrative presents sustained effort and trained conduct (not impulsive rage alone) as the hallmark of rightful warriorhood.

What is the narrative situation?

The fight does not quickly resolve; it stretches on, emphasizing the equal skill and stamina of the two combatants.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Abhyāsa (mastery through training) and dhṛti (firmness): expertise maintained over time.