Valmiki Ramayana 5.44.2 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 44, Shloka 2

जम्बुमालिवधः

The Slaying of Jambumali

Devanagari script

सन्दिष्टो राक्षसेन्द्रेण प्रहस्तस्य सुतो बली।जम्बुमाली महादंष्ट्रो निर्जगाम धनुर्धरः।।5.44.1।।रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरस्स्रग्वी रुचिरकुण्डलः।महान्विवृत्तनयनश्चण्डस्समरदुर्जयः।।5.44.2।।धनुश्शक्रधनुः प्रख्यं महद्रुचिरसायकम्।विष्फारयाणो वेगेन वज्राशनिसमस्वनम्।।5.44.3।।

Transliteration

sandiṣṭo rākṣasendreṇa prahastasya suto balī | jambumālī mahādaṃṣṭro nirjagāma dhanurdharaḥ || 5.44.1 ||

raktamālyāmbaradharaḥ sragvī rucirakuṇḍalaḥ | mahān vivṛttanayanaś caṇḍaḥ samaradurjayaḥ || 5.44.2 ||

dhanuḥ śakradhanuḥ-prakhyaṃ mahad rucira-sāyakam | viṣphārayāṇo vegena vajrāśani-samasvanaḥ || 5.44.3 ||

Translation

ਰਾਖਸ਼ਸੇਂਦ੍ਰ ਦੇ ਹੁਕਮ ਨਾਲ ਪ੍ਰਹਸਤ ਦਾ ਬਲਵਾਨ ਪੁੱਤਰ—ਵੱਡੇ ਦੰਦਾਂ ਵਾਲਾ, ਧਨੁਧਾਰੀ ਜੰਬੂਮਾਲੀ—ਬਾਹਰ ਨਿਕਲਿਆ। ਲਾਲ ਮਾਲਾ ਤੇ ਲਾਲ ਵਸਤ੍ਰ ਧਾਰੇ, ਸ੍ਰਗਵੀ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਕੁੰਡਲਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸ਼ੋਭਿਤ, ਵੱਡੀਆਂ ਘੁੰਮਦੀਆਂ ਅੱਖਾਂ ਵਾਲਾ, ਭਿਆਨਕ ਅਤੇ ਸਮਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੁਸ਼੍ਕਰ-ਜਿਤ ਉਹ ਅੱਗੇ ਵਧਿਆ। ਇੰਦਰਧਨੁਸ਼ ਵਰਗੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਹਾਨ ਧਨੁਸ਼ ਨੂੰ ਉਹ ਤੇਜ਼ੀ ਨਾਲ ਵਿਸ਼ਫਾਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਸੀ; ਵਜ੍ਰਾਸ਼ਨੀ ਸਮਾਨ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਗੂੰਜ ਉਠਦੀ, ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਮਹਾਨ ਤੀਰ ਚਮਕਦੇ ਸਨ।

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विष्फारघोषेण: by the twang-sound
• विष्फारघोषेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्फार-घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: विष्फारस्य घोषः (sound of twanging)

• धनुषः: of the bow
• धनुषः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• महता: great/huge
• महता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (agreeing with घोषेण), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण विष्फारघोषेण प्रति

• दिशः: directions
• दिशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रदिशः: intermediate directions
• प्रदिशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपदिशः (intermediate directions)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• नभः: sky/heaven
• नभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle: indeed/just)

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/रीति-अव्यय (adverb: suddenly/at once)

• समपूर्यत: was filled
• समपूर्यत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूर् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive sense): was filled

Context

Commanded by the demon king, Jambumali the invincible son of Prahasta, who had large teeth in front, big rolling eyes, red flower garland, red robes and a chaplet with beautiful earrings. He went round twanging his producing thunderous sound. His arrows were huge, shining and beautiful.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Jāmbumālin
• Prahasta
• Indra (Śakra)
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• arrows (sāyaka)

FAQs

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

It shows how valor can be morally ambiguous: martial excellence and splendor, when placed in service of adharma (Rāvaṇa’s cause), become instruments of wrongdoing rather than righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāvaṇa dispatches Jāmbumālin (son of Prahasta). The verse introduces his appearance, weapons, and terrifying battle-readiness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Jāmbumālin’s warrior prowess and intimidation—yet framed as power aligned to an unrighteous command, contrasting later with Hanumān’s dhārmic strength.