Shloka 18

द्वादशः सर्गः — Rama’s Proof of Power, the First Duel, and the Identification Mark

Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 12

Devanagari script

तलैरशनिकल्पैश्च वज्रकल्पैश्च मुष्टिभिः।जघ्नतुस्समरेऽन्योन्यं भ्रातरौ क्रोधमूर्छितौ4.12.18।।

Transliteration

talair aśanikalpaiś ca vajrakalpaiś ca muṣṭibhiḥ | jaghnatuḥ samare 'nyonyaṃ bhrātarau krodhamūrchitau ||

Translation

యుద్ధంలో క్రోధంతో మూర్ఛితులైన ఆ ఇద్దరు సోదరులు ఒకరినొకరు మెరుపులాంటి తాళాలతో, పాదప్రహారాలతో, వజ్రసమానమైన ముష్టులతో బలంగా కొట్టుకున్నారు॥

Word by Word

• talaiḥ: with palms/soles
• talaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā bahuvacana

• aśanikalpaiḥ: thunder-like
• aśanikalpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśani + kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: aśani-sadṛśa (like thunderbolt); Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of talaiḥ

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

• vajrakalpaiḥ: thunderbolt-like
• vajrakalpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra + kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: vajra-sadṛśa (like a thunderbolt); Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa (of muṣṭibhiḥ)

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

• muṣṭibhiḥ: with fists
• muṣṭibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā bahuvacana

• jaghnatuḥ: the two struck
• jaghnatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (imperfect), prathama-puruṣa, dvivacana (dual)

• samare: in battle
• samare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī ekavacana

• anyonyam: each other
• anyonyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya used reciprocally (परस्परार्थे अव्यय) as adverbial accusative

• bhrātarau: the two brothers
• bhrātarau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā dvivacana

• krodhamūrchitau: stupefied with rage
• krodhamūrchitau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krodha + mūrchita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: krodhena mūrchita = 'faint/senseless with anger'; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā dvivacana; viśeṣaṇa of bhrātarau

Context

The brothers, insensate with fury, struck each other like thunder with their palms, soles and fists in the combat.

Characters & Entities

• Vali
• Sugriva

FAQs

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

Uncontrolled anger (krodha) is shown as a force that eclipses reason and brotherly duty, turning kinship into violence—an implicit warning aligned with dharma’s call for restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Vali and Sugriva exchange heavy blows in close combat, with rage driving the intensity of the fight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Primarily an anti-virtue is highlighted: loss of self-mastery; the verse illustrates how fury can overpower discernment.