Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 40

इन्द्रजित्-वधः

The Slaying of Indrajit

Devanagari script

ततःसमरकोपेनसम्वृतोरावणात्मजः ।।।।विभीषणंत्रिभिर्बाणैर्विव्याथवदनेशुभे ।

Transliteration

tataḥ samarakopena saṃvṛto rāvaṇātmajaḥ | vibhīṣaṇaṃ tribhir bāṇair vivyātha vadane śubhe ||

Translation

ਤਦੋਂ ਸਮਰ-ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਰੇ ਰਾਵਣ ਦੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਨੇ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਮੁਖ ਵਾਲੇ ਵਿਭੀਸ਼ਣ ਦੇ ਚਿਹਰੇ ਉੱਤੇ ਤਿੰਨ ਬਾਣ ਮਾਰੇ।

Word by Word

• अयो-मुखैः: with iron-pointed (arrows)
• अयो-मुखैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ayas (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (‘iron-pointed’), Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural; agrees with (implied) बाणैः

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural

• विद्ध्वा: having struck
• विद्ध्वा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-√dh (वि√ध्/व्यध् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), avyaya; ‘having pierced’

• राक्षस-इन्द्रम्: the lord of Rakshasas
• राक्षस-इन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa, Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• विभीषणम्: Vibhishana
• विभीषणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• एक-एकेन: one by one
• एक-एकेन: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eka (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + eka (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; Instrumental sense ‘one by one’

• अभिविव्याथ: struck / pierced
• अभिविव्याथ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-vi-vyadh (अभि+वि√व्यध् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural; agrees with तान्

• हरि-यूथपान्: leaders of monkey-troops
• हरि-यूथपान्: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition to तान्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + yūthapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष), Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural

Context

Then Ravana's son in his charming countenance, filled with wrath because of conflict, struck at Vibheeshana with three arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Rāvaṇa
• Vibhīṣaṇa

FAQs

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

It warns about krodha (wrath) in conflict: anger can drive one to harsh, excessive violence. Dharma values self-mastery even amid war.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit attacks Vibhīṣaṇa directly, escalating the duel between the loyal-to-Dharma brother and the loyal-to-Laṅkā prince.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast rather than praise: the verse foregrounds Indrajit’s wrath, implying the absence of restraint (a key warrior virtue in Dharmic warfare).