Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 24

वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra

Angada’s Duel

Devanagari script

ततोऽन्यच्छिखरंगृह्यविपुलंद्रुमभूषितम् ।।6.54.24।।वज्रदंष्ट्रस्यशिरसिपातयामाससाऽङ्गदः ।

Transliteration

tato ’nyac chikharaṃ gṛhya vipulaṃ druma-bhūṣitam |

vajradaṃṣṭrasya śirasi pātayāmāsa so ’ṅgadaḥ ||6.54.24||

Translation

అనంతరం అంగదుడు వృక్షాలతో అలంకరించబడిన మరొక విస్తారమైన శిఖరాన్ని పట్టుకొని వజ్రదంష్ట్రుని తలపై పడవేశాడు।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय

• anyat: another
• anyat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• śikharam: peak/summit
• śikharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• gṛhītvā: having seized
• gṛhītvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), ‘गृहीत्वा’

• vipulam: vast
• vipulam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• drumabhūṣitam: adorned with trees
• drumabhūṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: druma + bhūṣita (कृदन्त; √bhūṣ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (‘द्रुमैः भूषितम्’) भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• vajradaṃṣṭrasya: of Vajradaṃṣṭra
• vajradaṃṣṭrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra + daṃṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-नाम

• śirasi: on the head
• śirasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• pātayāmāsa: caused to fall / hurled down
• pātayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (धातु) [णिच् causative: पातय]
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• aṅgadaḥ: Angada
• aṅgadaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Context

Then Angada seized a huge hillock adorned with trees hurled at Vajradamshtra.

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgada
• Vajradaṃṣṭra
• trees (druma)

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes unwavering commitment to the just side in crisis—sustained effort to neutralize a dangerous aggressor and restore safety for one’s forces.

What is the narrative situation?

After destroying the chariot, Aṅgada continues the assault by throwing another massive, tree-covered peak at Vajradaṃṣṭra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Determination—Aṅgada’s persistence until the threat is effectively checked.