Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 20

युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्

Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault

Devanagari script

केचिदन्योन्यमासाद्यशूराःपरिघपाणयः ।चिक्षिपुर्विविधंशस्त्रंसमरेष्न्विवर्तिनः ।।।।

Transliteration

kecid anyonyam āsādya śūrāḥ parighapāṇayaḥ |

cikṣipur vividhaṃ śastraṃ samareṣv anivartinaḥ ||

Translation

Alguns heróis, cujas mãos eram como clavas de ferro e que jamais recuavam no combate, investiram uns contra os outros e arremessaram armas de muitos tipos na batalha.

Word by Word

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (masc nom pl); ‘some (persons)’

• अन्योन्यम्: one another
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; द्वितीया, एकवचन (acc sg; used adverbially ‘mutually/one another’)

• आसाद्य: having approached
• आसाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√sad (धातु) + lyap (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having approached/attacked’

• शूराः: heroes
• शूराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (masc nom pl)

• परिघपाणयः: club-handed
• परिघपाणयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parigha (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; अर्थः: ‘परिघ इव पाणिः येषाम्’ (whose hands are like iron clubs)

• चिक्षिपुः: hurled
• चिक्षिपुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣip (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (they hurled)

• विविधम्: various
• विविधम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter acc sg)

• शस्त्रम्: weapon
• शस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter acc sg)

• समरेषु: in battles
• समरेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन (masc loc pl)

• अनिवर्तिनः: unyielding
• अनिवर्तिनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + nivartin (प्रातिपदिक; from √vṛt with ni)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (masc nom pl); ‘not turning back’

Context

Heroes in war whose hand s were like iron clubs, who never turned back in war, indeed flung weapons of many kinds on one another.

FAQs

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

Steadfastness (anivṛtti) is praised as a warriorly quality, but dharma also demands that such resolve be in service of righteous ends, not mere aggression.

What is the narrative situation?

The battle intensifies into close engagement, with opposing fighters converging and exchanging volleys of diverse weapons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and unwavering resolve in combat (dhairya/śaurya), expressed as refusing to retreat.