Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 88

इन्द्रजित्-वधः

The Slaying of Indrajit

Devanagari script

आकाशेचापिदेवानांशुश्रुवेदुन्दुभिस्वनः ।नृत्यद्भिरप्सरोभिश्चगन्धर्वैश्चमहात्मभिः ।।।।

Transliteration

ākāśe cāpi devānāṃ śuśruve dundubhi-svanaḥ |

nṛtyadbhir apsarobhiś ca gandharvaiś ca mahātmabhiḥ ||

Translation

आकाशेऽपि देवानां दुन्दुभीनां निनादः शुश्रुवे; नृत्यद्भिरप्सरोभिः सह महात्मभिश्च गन्धर्वैः समन्तात्।

Word by Word

• ākāśe: in the sky
• ākāśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-निपात)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) meaning 'also/even'

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śuśruve: was heard
• śuśruve: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• dundubhisvanaḥ: the sound of drums
• dundubhisvanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dundubhi + svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: dundubhi-svanaḥ = 'sound of drums'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nṛtyadbhiḥ: by dancing
• nṛtyadbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nṛt (धातु) > nṛtyat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); Masculine/Neuter (contextual); 'by dancing (ones)'

• apsarobhiḥ: by Apsaras
• apsarobhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-निपात)

• gandharvaiḥ: by Gandharvas
• gandharvaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-निपात)

• mahātmabhiḥ: by great souls
• mahātmabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: mahā-ātman = 'great-souled'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

In heaven also, sounds of drums of Gandharvas, great souls and dance of Apsaras were heard.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Apsarases
• Gandharvas
• Ākāśa (heavens)

FAQs

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

When dharma prevails, harmony is mirrored in the cosmos; celebration symbolizes the rebalancing of order.

What is the narrative situation?

The epic depicts heavenly festivities—drums and dance—marking the turning point after Indrajit’s fall.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue is collective: the universe itself ‘approves’ righteous victory, reinforcing faith in moral causality.