Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 69, Shloka 70

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

यावद्विक्रमितुंबुधदिंचक्रुःप्लवगपुङ्गवाः ।तावदेतानतिक्रम्यनिर्बिभेदनरान्तकः ।।।।

Transliteration

yāvad vikramituṃ buddha-diṃ cakruḥ plavaga-puṅgavāḥ | tāvad etān atikramya nirbibhēda narāntakaḥ ||

Translation

प्लवगपुंगवांना पुढे झेपावण्याचा निर्धार करायला जितका वेळ लागला, तितक्यातच नरांतक त्यांना ओलांडून त्यांच्यावर तुटून पडला व भेदून गेला।

Word by Word

• यावत्: while / as long as
• यावत्: काल/अवधि-निर्देशक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधिवाचक-अव्यय (correlative: ‘as long as/while’)

• विक्रमितुम्: to advance / to overtake
• विक्रमितुम्: प्रयोजन (purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√kram (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to stride/advance/overcome’

• बुधदिम्: (before) awareness/realization
• बुधदिम्: कर्म/क्रियाविशेषण (idiomatic object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha-diś (प्रातिपदिक; components: budha + diś)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: बुधा (ज्ञाता) दिशा (sense: ‘the knowing/aware direction’, i.e., ‘before they could realize/know’—idiomatic)

• चक्रुः: did / attempted
• चक्रुः: क्रिया (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परस्मैपद (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• प्लवगपुङ्गवाः: leaders of the monkeys
• प्लवगपुङ्गवाः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaga-puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक; components: plavaga + puṅgava)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: प्लवगानां पुङ्गवाः

• तावत्: then / meanwhile
• तावत्: काल/अवधि-निर्देशक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधिवाचक-अव्यय (correlative: ‘then/so long/just then’)

• एतान्: these (ones)
• एतान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अतिक्रम्य: having passed beyond
• अतिक्रम्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati√kram (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having overstepped/passed’

• निर्बिभेद: pierced / destroyed
• निर्बिभेद: क्रिया (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir√bhid (धातु)
• Form: लङ्/परस्मैपद (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नरान्तकः: Narantaka
• नरान्तकः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narāntaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Naranthaka went past the Vanara leaders all over even before they attempted, he destroyed them.

Characters & Entities

• Narāntaka

FAQs

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

Dharma requires prompt, clear-sighted action in emergencies; delay in a righteous defense can allow adharma to gain ground.

What is the narrative situation?

Narāntaka breaks through the Vānara leadership line before they can effectively respond.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Decisiveness and presence of mind (buddhi) are highlighted by their momentary absence, creating vulnerability.