Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 34

इन्द्रजित्-वधः

The Slaying of Indrajit

Devanagari script

अभ्येद्यकवचंमत्वालक्ष्मणंरावणात्मजः ।।6.91.33।।ललाटेलक्ष्मणंबाणैस्सुपुङ्खैस्त्रिभिरिन्द्रजित् ।अविध्यत्परमक्रुद्धःशीघ्रमस्त्रंप्रदर्शयन् ।।6.91.34।।

Transliteration

abhedyakavacaṁ matvā lakṣmaṇaṁ rāvaṇātmajaḥ || 6.91.33 || lalāṭe lakṣmaṇaṁ bāṇaiḥ supuṅkhais tribhir indrajit | avidhyat paramakruddhaḥ śīghram astraṁ pradarśayan || 6.91.34 ||

Translation

(Ulangan) Indrajit, mengetahui baju zirah Lakṣmaṇa tidak dapat ditembusi, dalam kemarahan besar dan dengan pantas memperlihatkan kepakaran senjatanya, lalu memanah dahi Lakṣmaṇa dengan tiga anak panah berbulu indah.

Word by Word

• तैः: with those
• तैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural

• पृषत्कैः: with arrows
• पृषत्कैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣatka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural

• ललाट-स्थैः: situated on the forehead
• ललाट-स्थैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lalāṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: ‘forehead-situated’), Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural; agrees with पृषत्कैः

• शुशुभे: shone / looked splendid
• शुशुभे: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śubh (शुभ् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• रघु-नन्दनः: delight of the Raghu line (Lakshmana)
• रघु-नन्दनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• रण-अग्रे: at the battle-front
• रण-अग्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; Locative sense ‘at the front of battle’

• समर-श्लाघी: fond of battle
• समर-श्लाघी: Karta-guṇa (कर्तृगुण/Subject attribute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक) + ślāghin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa, Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; agrees with रघुनन्दनः

• त्रि-शृङ्गः: three-peaked
• त्रि-शृङ्गः: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu (numeral compound), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; agrees with पर्वतः

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (उपमा-निपात/particle of comparison)

• पर्वतः: a mountain
• पर्वतः: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

Context

Ravana's son, knowing that it is not possible to break the shield of Lakshmana, quickly showed his weapon with three arrows with plumes and gems and struck him on the forehead.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Rāvaṇa
• Lakṣmaṇa
• kavaca (armor)
• astra (weapon/weapon-skill)

FAQs

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

As a duplicated reading, it reiterates the same lesson: prowess should be governed by restraint; rage-driven action is ethically precarious even when skillful.

What is the narrative situation?

The text repeats the description of Indrajit shifting tactics to strike Lakṣmaṇa’s exposed forehead.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Weapon-skill and tactical adaptation (Indrajit), set against the moral hazard of excessive anger.