Valmiki Ramayana 5.47.8 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 8

अक्षवधः (The Slaying of Prince Aksha)

Sundarakāṇḍa Sarga 47

Devanagari script

स तं समासाद्य हरिं हरीक्षणो युगान्तकालाग्निमिव प्रजाक्षये।अवस्थितं विस्मितजातसम्भ्रम स्समैक्षताक्षो बहुमानचक्षुषा।।5.47.8।।

Transliteration

sa taṃ samāsādya hariṃ harīkṣaṇo yugāntakālāgnim iva prajākṣaye |

avasthitaṃ vismitajātasambhramaḥ samaikṣatākṣo bahumānacakṣuṣā ||5.47.8||

Translation

அந்தக் கபியை அணுகிய சிங்கநேத்திரன் அக்ஷன், உயிர்கள் அழியும் வேளையில் யுகாந்தக் காலத்தின் பிரளயத் தீயைப் போல நிலைத்திருந்த அவனை கண்டான்; வியப்பால் கலங்கித் திடுக்கிட்டு, மரியாதை நிறைந்த பார்வையால் அவனை நோக்கினான்।

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-शब्दः

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-शब्दः

• समासाद्य: having reached/approached
• समासाद्य: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + सद् (धातु) → समासाद्य (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having done first)

• हरिम्: the vanara (monkey-hero)
• हरिम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्

• हरीक्षणः: lion-eyed (having eyes like a lion)
• हरीक्षणः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक); (हरि-ईक्षणः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हरिणः ईक्षणम् यस्य/हरि-ईक्षणः)

• युगान्तकालाग्निम्: the fire at the end-time of an aeon (cosmic fire)
• युगान्तकालाग्निम्: उपमान (Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युगान्त + काल + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी/सप्तमी-सम्बन्धार्थक-तत्पुरुषः (युगान्ते काले अग्निः)

• इव: like/as
• इव: उपमा-सूचक (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्ययम् (particle of comparison)

• प्रजाक्षये: at the destruction of beings/at universal destruction
• प्रजाक्षये: अधिकरण (Locative circumstance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां क्षयः) — 'प्रजाक्षये' = प्रजाक्षये काले

• अवस्थितम्: standing/remaining present
• अवस्थितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + स्था (धातु) → अवस्थित (क्त-प्रत्यय, भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past participle) — 'standing/being present'

• विस्मितजातसम्भ्रमः: whose agitation arose from astonishment (astonished and awed)
• विस्मितजातसम्भ्रमः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मित + जात + सम्भ्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), एकवचनम्; बहु-तत्पुरुष-समासः (विस्मितेन जातः सम्भ्रमः यस्य)

• समैक्षत: looked at / beheld
• समैक्षत: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• अक्षः: Aksha (Aksha-kumara)
• अक्षः: कर्ता (Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) [अक्षः = अक्षकुमारः]
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), एकवचनम्; विशेष-नामार्थे (Aksha)

• बहुमानचक्षुषा: with respectful eyes / with great regard
• बहुमानचक्षुषा: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहुमान + चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बहुमानस्य चक्षुः) — 'with eyes of respect'

Context

The lion-eyed Aksha saw the vanara who appeared like the cosmic fire at the time of dissolution of the universe. The prince was astonished and struck with awe (at themajestic form of the Vanara) and looked at him with great respect.

Characters & Entities

• Akṣa
• Hanumān

FAQs

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

The verse suggests a Dharma insight: when confronted with overwhelming truth and power, arrogance gives way to recognition—respect arises naturally before a force aligned with a higher purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

Akṣa arrives at the gateway and, seeing Hanumān’s terrifying majesty, momentarily reacts with awe and respect before combat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Hanumān’s tejas (spiritual radiance/majesty) that compels even an enemy to acknowledge his stature.