Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 32

इन्द्रजित्-वधः

The Slaying of Indrajit

Devanagari script

तेतस्यवज्रप्रतिमाःशरास्सर्पविषोपमाः ।।।।विलयंजग्मुरागत्यकवचंकाञ्चनप्रभम् ।

Transliteration

te tasya vajrapratimāḥ śarāḥ sarpaviṣopamāḥ | vilayaṁ jagmur āgatya kavacaṁ kāñcanaprabham ||

Translation

அவனுடைய வஜ்ரம் போன்றதும் பாம்பு விஷம் போன்றதும் ஆன அம்புகள் வந்து பொன்னொளி வீசும் கவசத்தில் பட்டவுடன், மோதியதிலேயே சிதறி அழிந்துபோயின।

Word by Word

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• तस्य: of him / his
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• वज्र-प्रतिमाः: thunderbolt-like
• वज्र-प्रतिमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + pratimā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपमान-निर्देश), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural; agrees with शराः

• शराः: arrows
• शराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural

• सर्प-विष-उपमाः: like serpent-venom
• सर्प-विष-उपमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarpa (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + upamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपमान-निर्देश), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural; agrees with शराः

• विलयम्: destruction / breaking up
• विलयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; goal/state reached)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vilaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• जग्मुः: went / reached
• जग्मुः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• आगत्य: having come / after reaching
• आगत्य: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-gam (आ√गम् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya; prior action

• कवचम्: armor
• कवचम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense via motion-contact; object of reaching)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• काञ्चन-प्रभम्: golden-glowing
• काञ्चन-प्रभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa, Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; agrees with कवचम्

Context

His arrows, which resembled thunderbolts and were like venomous serpents, touching Lakshmana's shield shining like gold, broken, and fallen

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Lakṣmaṇa
• kavaca (armor)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes preparedness and rightful protection: righteous warriors safeguard themselves to continue defending the just cause.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit’s powerful arrows fail to penetrate Lakṣmaṇa’s golden-shining armor and break upon it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s resilience and readiness—his protection holds even against fearsome weapons.