Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 43, Shloka 9

द्वन्द्वयुद्धप्रवृत्तिः

Dvandva-Yuddha: The Onset of Single Combats

Devanagari script

तपनेनगजस्सार्धंराक्षसेनमहाबलः ।निकुम्भेनमहातेजानीलोऽपिसमयुध्यत ।।6.43.9।।

Transliteration

tapanena gajaḥ sārdhaṃ rākṣasena mahābalaḥ |

nikumbhena mahātejā nīlo 'pi samayudhyata ||6.43.9||

Translation

ਮਹਾਂ ਬਲਵਾਨ ਗਜ ਰਾਖਸ਼ਸ ਤਪਨ ਨਾਲ ਯੁੱਧ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ; ਅਤੇ ਮਹਾਂ ਤੇਜਸਵੀ ਨੀਲ ਵੀ ਨਿਕੁੰਭ ਨਾਲ ਸਮਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੜ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ।

Word by Word

• tapanena: with Tapana
• tapanena: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• gajaḥ: Gaja
• gajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sārdham: together with
• sārdham: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārdham (अव्यय)
• Form: Prepositional adverb (अव्यय)

• rākṣasena: with the Rakshasa
• rākṣasena: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahābalaḥ: of great strength
• mahābalaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying gajaḥ

• nikumbhena: with Nikumbha
• nikumbhena: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nikumbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahātejāḥ: of great splendour
• mahātejāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying nīlaḥ

• nīlaḥ: Nila
• nīlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), additive

• samayudhyata: fought together/engaged in combat
• samayudhyata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√yudh (युध् धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, Imperfect), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Gaja of great strength fought with Rakshasa Tapa, and highly energetic Neela fought with Nikumbha.

Characters & Entities

• Gaja
• Tapana
• Nīla
• Nikumbha

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as disciplined participation in a collective struggle for justice: each warrior accepts responsibility, meeting an opponent without abandoning the larger cause.

What is the narrative situation?

The battlefield breaks into multiple simultaneous duels; Gaja engages Tapana while Nīla engages Nikumbha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Valor in service: strength (Gaja) and brilliance/energy (Nīla) are presented as virtues directed toward protecting the righteous side.