Shloka 28

युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्

Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault

Devanagari script

तान् राक्षसगणान्सर्वान्वृक्षमुद्यम्यवीर्यवान् ।अङ्गदःक्रोधताम्राक्षःसिंहःक्षुद्रमृगानिव ।।।।कारकदनंघोरंशक्रतुल्यपराक्रमः ।।।।

Transliteration

tān rākṣasa-gaṇān sarvān vṛkṣam udyamya vīryavān |

aṅgadaḥ krodha-tāmrākṣaḥ siṃhaḥ kṣudra-mṛgān iva ||

kāra kadanaṃ ghoraṃ śakra-tulya-parākramaḥ ||

Translation

Ketika itu, Aṅgada yang gagah—matanya merah kerana murka, dan keberaniannya setara Indra—mengangkat sebatang pokok lalu melakukan pembantaian yang menggerunkan terhadap seluruh bala rākṣasa, laksana singa menerkam binatang kecil.

Word by Word

• तान्: those (them)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• राक्षसगणान्: the groups of Rakshasas
• राक्षसगणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (rākṣasānāṃ gaṇaḥ)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्वनाम/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying राक्षसगणान्)

• वृक्षम्: a tree
• वृक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• उद्यम्य: having lifted
• उद्यम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-यम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having lifted/seized’

• वीर्यवान्: valiant, powerful
• वीर्यवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya + vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying अङ्गदः)

• अङ्गदः: Angada
• अङ्गदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• क्रोधताम्राक्षः: with eyes reddened by anger
• क्रोधताम्राक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध + ताम्र + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘क्रोधेन ताम्रे अक्षिणी यस्य’ (whose eyes are copper-red with anger)

• सिंहः: a lion
• सिंहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान-प्रयोग (as a simile term)

• क्षुद्रमृगान्: small animals
• क्षुद्रमृगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुद्र + मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (kṣudrāḥ mṛgāḥ)

• इव: like, as
• इव: Sambandha/Upamā (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

Context

Then the wonderful chariots, flags, horses, Vanaras and Rakshasas bodies bathed in blood fell on the ground looked fearful.

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgada
• Rākṣasa troops
• Tree (as weapon)
• Śakra/Indra (comparison)

FAQs

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

The verse presents force used in service of a righteous cause: courage becomes dharmic when directed toward protecting justice and resisting oppression, not toward personal cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

In the thick of battle, Aṅgada uproots/seizes a tree and attacks the rākṣasa formations with overwhelming ferocity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (heroic valor) and fearlessness—Aṅgada’s uncompromising battlefield courage in support of Rāma’s campaign.