Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 16

वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra

Angada’s Duel

Devanagari script

ततोहरिगणान् भग्नान् दृष्टवावालिसुतस्तदा ।।6.54.16।।क्रोधेनवज्रदंष्ट्रंतमुदीक्षन्तमुदैक्षत ।

Transliteration

tato hari-gaṇān bhagnān dṛṣṭvā vāli-sutas tadā |

krodhena vajradaṃṣṭraṃ tam udīkṣantam udaikṣata ||6.54.16||

Translation

Тогда сын Вали, увидев разбитые ряды хари, в гневе обратился навстречу Ваджрадамштре, что грозно взирал на них.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/अनन्तर-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• harigaṇān: the monkey-troops
• harigaṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘हरिणां गणान्’)

• bhagnān: broken/defeated
• bhagnān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagna (कृदन्त; √bhañj धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘दृष्ट्वा’

• vālisutaḥ: Vali's son (Angada)
• vālisutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāli + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘वालिनः सुतः’)

• tadā: at that time
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• krodhena: with anger / in wrath
• krodhena: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• vajradaṃṣṭram: Vajradaṃṣṭra
• vajradaṃṣṭram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra + daṃṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘वज्रवत् दंष्ट्रा यस्य सः’)—नाम

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• udīkṣantam: looking at (them)
• udīkṣantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), ‘उदीक्षन्तम्’

• udaikṣata: looked at / faced
• udaikṣata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

Vajradamshtra and Angada both enraged and strode among Rakshasas and monkeys and fought like a lion and intoxicated elephant.

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgada
• Vāli
• Vajradaṃṣṭra
• Vānara troops

FAQs

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

Dharma here is protective leadership: a responsible warrior does not abandon his routed companions but confronts the cause of their suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Aṅgada observes the Vānara forces being broken and steps forward to challenge Vajradaṃṣṭra directly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Guardian-like courage—Aṅgada’s readiness to stand before danger for the sake of his troops.