Shloka 13

Karṇa-kuṇḍala-kavaca-jijñāsā; Kuntibhoja’s hospitality and Pṛthā’s appointment (कर्णकुण्डलकवचजिज्ञासा)

Devanagari script

तथैवेन्द्रजितं यत्तं लक्ष्मणो मर्मभेदिभि: । इन्द्रजिच्चापि सौमित्रिं बिभेद बहुभि: शरै:,रावणने शक्ति, शूल और खड्गकी वर्षा करके श्रीरामचन्द्रजीको बहुत पीड़ा दी तथा श्रीरघुनाथजीने भी लोहेके बने हुए तीखे बाणोंद्वारा रावणको अत्यन्त पीड़ित किया। इसी प्रकार युद्धके लिये उद्यत रहनेवाले इन्द्रजितको लक्ष्मणने मर्मभेदी बाणोंद्वारा घायल किया और इन्द्रजितने सुमित्रानन्दन लक्ष्मणको अनेक बाणोंद्वारा बींध डाला

Transliteration

tathaivendrajitaṃ yattaṃ lakṣmaṇo marmabhedibhiḥ | indrajic cāpi saumitriṃ bibheda bahubhiḥ śaraiḥ ||

Translation

మార్కండేయుడు పలికెను—అదేవిధంగా యుద్ధానికి సిద్ధమైన ఇంద్రజితుని లక్ష్మణుడు మర్మభేదక బాణాలతో గాయపరిచెను; ఇంద్రజితుడు కూడా సౌమిత్రి లక్ష్మణుని అనేక శరాలతో ఛేదించెను.

Word by Word

तथाthus, in the same way

एवindeed, just

इन्द्रजितम्Indrajit (as object)

यत्तम्ready/striving, intent (for battle)

लक्ष्मणःLakshmana

मर्मभेदिभिःwith vital-part-piercing (arrows)

इन्द्रजित्Indrajit

चand

अपिalso

सौमित्रिम्the son of Sumitra (Lakshmana)

बिभेदpierced, wounded

बहुभिःwith many

शरैःwith arrows

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Indrajit

Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)

arrows (śara)

vital points (marma)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the harsh symmetry of battle: each warrior both inflicts and endures wounds. Ethically, it highlights kṣatriya-dharma—steadfastness and resolve in the face of pain—without romanticizing violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Lakṣmaṇa wounds the battle-ready Indrajit with arrows aimed at vital points; Indrajit retaliates by piercing Lakṣmaṇa with many arrows, intensifying the duel.