Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 69, Shloka 85

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

निरायुधोमहातेजाःकेवलंनखदंष्ट्रवान् ।नरान्तकमभिक्रम्यवालिपुत्रोऽब्रवीद्वचः ।।।।

Transliteration

nirāyudho mahā-tejāḥ kevalaṁ nakha-daṁṣṭravān | narāntakam abhikramya vāli-putro ’bravīd vacaḥ ||

Translation

निरायुधोऽपि महातेजाः केवलं नखदंष्ट्रायुधवान् । नरान्तकं प्रति अभिक्रम्य वालिपुत्रोऽङ्गदः वचोऽब्रवीत् ॥

Word by Word

• nirāyudhaḥ: weaponless
• nirāyudhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular); nañ/tatpurusha: nir + āyudha = weaponless

• mahātejāḥ: of great brilliance
• mahātejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: mahā + tejas = great splendor

• kevalam: only, merely
• kevalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable); adverbial usage

• nakha-daṃṣṭravān: having (only) nails and teeth
• nakha-daṃṣṭravān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nakha + daṃṣṭrā + -vant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; dvandva base nakha-daṃṣṭrā (nails and teeth) + matup/vant affix = possessing

• narāntakam: Narantaka
• narāntakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narāntaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; proper name

• abhikramya: having approached
• abhikramya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√kram (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya; from abhi + √kram = having advanced/approached

• vāliputraḥ: Vali's son (Angada)
• vāliputraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāli + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: vāleḥ putraḥ

• abravīt: spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (Imperfect/Past), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana/vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative), Ekavacana; object of speaking

Context

Brilliant Angada, unarmed only with nails and teeth (to fight) advanced towards Naranthaka and spoke these words.

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgada (Vāli-putra)
• Vāli
• Narāntaka

FAQs

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

Courage in righteous duty does not depend on external instruments; commitment to protect dharma can stand even when one is unarmed.

What is the narrative situation?

Aṅgada closes in on Narāntaka, ready to fight even without conventional weapons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearlessness and resolve.