Valmiki Ramayana 5.47.2 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 2

अक्षवधः (The Slaying of Prince Aksha)

Sundarakāṇḍa Sarga 47

Devanagari script

स तस्य दृष्ट्यर्पणसम्प्रचोदितः प्रतापवान्काञ्चनचित्रकार्मुकः।समुत्पपाताथ सदस्युदीरितो द्विजातिमुख्यैर्हविषेव पावकः।।5.47.2।।

Transliteration

sa tasya dṛṣṭy-arpaṇa-sampracoditaḥ pratāpavān kāñcana-citra-kārmukaḥ | samutpapāta atha sadasy udīrito dvijāti-mukhyair haviṣeva pāvakaḥ ||5.47.2||

Translation

Didorong hanya oleh pandangan Rāvaṇa, Akṣa yang mulia—membawa busur indah bertatah emas—segera bangkit dari balairung diraja. Ia menyala bagaikan api suci apabila para Brāhmaṇa utama mencurahkan persembahan ke dalam nyala yajña.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tasya: of him (the king)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• dṛṣṭi-arpaṇa-sampracoditaḥ: spurred by (the king's) glance
• dṛṣṭi-arpaṇa-sampracoditaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛṣṭi + arpaṇa + sam-pra-√cud (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: "dṛṣṭyā arpaṇena sampracoditaḥ" = "urged by the bestowal of a glance"; kta-participle

• pratāpavān: valiant/glorious
• pratāpavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratāpa-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; possessive suffix -vat

• kāñcana-citra-kārmukaḥ: (he) with a splendid gold-inlaid bow
• kāñcana-citra-kārmukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāñcana + citra + kārmuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya: "kāñcanena citraṃ kārmukam" / "gold-inlaid splendid bow" (as epithet of the person)

• samutpapāta: sprang up
• samutpapāta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ut-√pat (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, discourse particle (निपात) = "then"

• sadasi: in the assembly
• sadasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• udīritaḥ: kindled/roused
• udīritaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-√īr (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त-कृदन्त); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate with pāvakaḥ: "kindled/raised"

• dvijātimukhyaiḥ: by the foremost twice-born (brahmins)
• dvijātimukhyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvijāti + mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; tatpuruṣa: "dvijātīnām mukhyāḥ" (chief brahmins)

• haviṣā: with oblation
• haviṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: havis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, comparative particle

• pāvakaḥ: fire
• pāvakaḥ: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Context

Aksha, with his wonderful quiver and bow, began to rain rapidly a shower of arrows in the battle, on the mountain-like monkey-lord just as a cloud rains on a mountain.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Akṣa (Akṣakumāra)
• pāvaka (sacred fire)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights obedience to royal command and readiness for one’s duty: a prince responds instantly to the king’s signal, reflecting kṣatra-dharma (the warrior’s responsibility to act decisively in defense of the realm).

What is the narrative situation?

In Laṅkā’s court, Akṣa is prompted by Rāvaṇa’s glance to rise from the assembly and go forth to confront Hanumān.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Promptness and martial readiness—Akṣa’s immediate, energetic response to authority, likened to fire intensifying when properly fed.