Shloka 6

ताटकावधः

The Slaying of Tāṭakā

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा धनुर्मध्ये बध्वा मुष्टिमरिन्दम:।ज्याशब्दमकरोत्तीव्रं दिशश्शब्देन नादयन्।।1.26.6।।

Transliteration

evam uktvā dhanur madhye badhvā muṣṭim arindamaḥ |

jyāśabdam akarot tīvraṃ diśaḥ śabdena nādayan ||

Translation

एवमुक्त्वा धनुर्मध्ये मुष्टिं बद्ध्वा अरिन्दमः। तीव्रं ज्याशब्दमकरोत्, तेन शब्देन दिशो नादयन्॥

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• उक्त्वा: having spoken
• उक्त्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having said’

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: सम्बन्ध (Relation within compound-like phrase)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-समर्थ्ये; अत्र ‘धनुर्मध्ये’ इत्यत्र पूर्वपद; मूलतः प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन रूपम् ‘धनुः’

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• बध्वा: having clenched/fastened
• बध्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having bound/fastened’

• मुष्टिम्: fist/grip
• मुष्टिम्: कर्म (Object of बध्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अरिन्दमः: destroyer of enemies
• अरिन्दमः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिन्दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपाधि (epithet) of रामः

• ज्याशब्दम्: twang-sound of the bowstring
• ज्याशब्दम्: कर्म (Object of अकरोत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्या + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘ज्यायाः शब्दः’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अकरोत्: made/produced
• अकरोत्: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तीव्रम्: intense
• तीव्रम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीव्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ज्याशब्दम्

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: कर्म (Object of नादयन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; ‘directions’

• शब्देन: with sound
• शब्देन: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• नादयन्: making resound
• नादयन्: कर्ता (Agent participle; describing subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘sounding/causing to resound’

Context

Rama, the destroyer of enemies having said so clinched the middle of the bow with his fist and filled the ten quarters with the resounding twanging of the bow-string.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• bow (dhanus)
• bowstring (jyā)
• directions/quarters (diś)

FAQs

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

Dharma is not passive; when protection is required, preparedness and decisive strength are part of righteous conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma physically prepares for the confrontation by sounding the bowstring, which signals his readiness and draws attention.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Valor disciplined by purpose—Rāma’s strength is presented as controlled and mission-oriented.