Shloka 21

Mahāpārśva-vadhaḥ — The Slaying of Mahāpārśva

Angada’s Counterstrike

Devanagari script

राक्षसस्यस्तनाभ्याशेमर्मज्ञोहृदयंप्रति ।।।।इन्द्राशनिमस्पर्शं स मुष्टिंविन्यपातयत् ।

Transliteration

rākṣasasya stanābhyāśe marmajño hṛdayaṃ prati | indrāśanisamasparśaṃ sa muṣṭiṃ vinyapātayat ||

Translation

മർമ്മജ്ഞനായ അവൻ രാക്ഷസന്റെ വക്ഷസ്ഥലത്തിനരികെ, ഹൃദയത്തേയ്ക്ക് ലക്ഷ്യമിട്ട്, ഇന്ദ്രാശനിസമസ്പർശമുള്ള തന്റെ മുഷ്ടി ശക്തിയായി പതിപ്പിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• राक्षसस्य: of the Rakshasa
• राक्षसस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्तनाभ्याशे: near the chest/breasts
• स्तनाभ्याशे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन + अभ्याश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्तनानाम् अभ्याशः)

• मर्मज्ञः: knower of vital spots
• मर्मज्ञः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्म + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मर्मणां ज्ञः)

• हृदयम्: the heart
• हृदयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: दिशा/प्रत्ययार्थ (Directional)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय; दिशार्थे (towards)

• इन्द्राशनिसमस्पर्शम्: having a touch like Indra's thunderbolt
• इन्द्राशनिसमस्पर्शम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्राशनि + सम + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्राशनिना समः स्पर्शः यस्य)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• मुष्टिम्: fist
• मुष्टिम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विन्यपातयत्: struck down/landed (his fist)
• विन्यपातयत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + पत् (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; धातुः पत्, णिच् (पातयति = causes to fall/strikes down), उपसर्गः वि+नि

Context

Highly rejoiced Vanaras roared in high pitch sound. The tall attics and gates of Lanka vibrated with sound. Even the gods, accompanied by Indra, made great sounds.

Characters & Entities

• Angada
• Indra
• Rākṣasa (Mahāpārśva by context)

FAQs

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

Right action with skill: dharma in warfare is not cruelty but decisive, necessary force guided by knowledge and purpose to end harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Angada delivers a targeted blow to the rākṣasa’s vital region, aiming to neutralize the threat quickly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Competence and discernment—skillful strength (bala) directed by knowledge (marmavidyā).