Shloka 48

Devanagari script

रथाक्षमात्रा विशिखास्तपनीयविभूषणाः।कस्येमेऽभिहता बाणाः प्रकीर्णा घोरकर्मणः।।।।

Transliteration

rathākṣamātrā viśikhās tapanīyavibhūṣaṇāḥ | kasyeme 'bhihatā bāṇāḥ prakīrṇā ghorakarmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

ਰਥ ਦੇ ਅਕਸ ਵਰਗੇ ਮੋਟੇ ਡੰਡਿਆਂ ਵਾਲੇ, ਚਮਕਦੇ ਸੋਨੇ ਦੇ ਭੂਸ਼ਣਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਵਿਭੂਸ਼ਿਤ—ਇਹ ਕਿਸ ਦੇ ਬਾਣ ਹਨ ਜੋ ਟੁੱਟ ਕੇ ਚੌਫੇਰੇ ਖਿੱਲਰ ਗਏ ਹਨ? ਐਸਾ ਘੋਰ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਕੌਣ ਹੈ?

Word by Word

• रथ-अक्ष-मात्राः: of the size of a chariot-axle
• रथ-अक्ष-मात्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रथस्य अक्षस्य मात्रा इव)

• विशिखाः: pointless (blunt)
• विशिखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशिख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘without point/barb’

• तपनीय-विभूषणाः: adorned with refined gold
• तपनीय-विभूषणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपनीय (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तपनीयेन विभूषणं येषाम्)

• कस्य: whose
• कस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• इमे: these
• इमे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अभिहताः: smitten, destroyed
• अभिहताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिहत (कृदन्त; √हन् with अभि-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘struck/destroyed’

• बाणाः: arrows
• बाणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्रकीर्णाः: scattered
• प्रकीर्णाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकीर्ण (कृदन्त; √कॄ/कीर् with प्र-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘scattered’

• घोर-कर्मणः: of dreadful deeds
• घोर-कर्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (घोरं कर्म येषाम्)

Context

Whose are these pointless arrows of the size of a chariot axle adorned with bright gold destroyed and scattered ? Who is he that has performed such terrible deeds?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• bāṇa (arrows)
• ratha (chariot)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires discernment: before judging, one must examine signs and infer responsibly. Rāma models truth-seeking rather than rash accusation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma notices unusually massive, gold-adorned arrows lying broken and scattered—evidence of a fierce battle connected to Sītā’s disappearance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and investigative clarity (viveka) under emotional strain.