Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 33

इन्द्रजित्-वधः

The Slaying of Indrajit

Devanagari script

अभ्येद्यकवचंमत्वालक्ष्मणंरावणात्मजः ।।।।ललाटेलक्ष्मणंबाणैस्सुपुङ्खैस्त्रिभिरिन्द्रजित् ।अविध्यत्परमक्रुद्धःशीघ्रमस्त्रंप्रदर्शयन् ।।।।

Transliteration

abhedyaṁ kavacaṁ matvā lakṣmaṇaṁ rāvaṇātmajaḥ | lalāṭe lakṣmaṇaṁ bāṇaiḥ supuṅkhais tribhir indrajit | avidhyat paramakruddhaḥ śīghram astraṁ pradarśayan ||

Translation

Ao perceber que a couraça de Lakṣmaṇa era impenetrável, Indrajit, filho de Rāvaṇa, tomado de grande ira e com rapidez, exibiu sua perícia nas armas e feriu Lakṣmaṇa na testa com três flechas de belas penas.

Word by Word

• अभेद्य-कवचम्: (having) unbreakable armor
• अभेद्य-कवचम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-bhedya (भेद्य; √bhid धातु से) + kavaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya, Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; qualifies लक्ष्मणम् (as ‘armored with unbreakable armor’)

• मत्वा: having considered
• मत्वा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: man (मन् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), avyaya; ‘having thought/considered/knowing’

• लक्ष्मणम्: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• रावण-आत्मजः: Ravana's son
• रावण-आत्मजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• ललाटे: on the forehead
• ललाटे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lalāṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular

• लक्ष्मणम्: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural

• सुपुङ्खैः: well-feathered
• सुपुङ्खैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/प्रादि) + puṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya, Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural; agrees with बाणैः

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

• इन्द्रजित्: Indrajit
• इन्द्रजित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to रावणात्मजः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indrajit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• अविध्यत्: pierced / struck
• अविध्यत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-dh (वि√ध्/व्यध् धातु; ‘to pierce’)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• परम-क्रुद्धः: extremely enraged
• परम-क्रुद्धः: Karta-guṇa (कर्तृगुण/Subject attribute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + kruddha (√krudh धातु, क्त)
• Form: Karmadhāraya; kruddha = past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; agrees with इन्द्रजित्

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• अस्त्रम्: weapon / missile
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• प्रदर्शयन्: showing / displaying
• प्रदर्शयन्: Kriyā-sahakārī (क्रियासहकारी/Concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dṛś (प्र√दृश् धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; agrees with इन्द्रजित्

Context

Ravana's son, knowing that it is not possible to break the shield of Lakshmana, quickly showed his weapon with three arrows with plumes and gems and struck him on the forehead.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Rāvaṇa
• Lakṣmaṇa
• kavaca (armor)
• astra (weapon/weapon-skill)

FAQs

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

It contrasts skill with inner discipline: technical mastery (astra-pradarśana) without restraint, when driven by rage, risks departing from dharmic composure.

What is the narrative situation?

Seeing Lakṣmaṇa’s armor resist his shots, Indrajit changes tactic and targets the exposed forehead with three arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indrajit’s tactical adaptability and weapon-skill, though portrayed alongside intense anger.