Shloka 17

शरबन्धनम् (The Binding by Arrows) / Indrajit’s Illusory Assault and the Vanaras’ Consolation

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वातुतान् सर्वान्राक्षसान्परिपार्श्वतः ।।6.46.17।।यूथपानपितान्सर्वांस्ताडयामासरावणिः ।

Transliteration

evam uktvā tu tān sarvān rākṣasān paripārśvataḥ | yūthapān api tān sarvān tāḍayāmāsa rāvaṇiḥ || 6.46.17 ||

Translation

ครั้นกล่าวดังนี้แก่เหล่ารากษสที่รายล้อมอยู่โดยรอบแล้ว ราวณิ (อินทรชิต) ก็เริ่มเข้าตีและโค่นลงแม้บรรดาหัวหน้ากองทั้งสิ้น

Word by Word

• नीलम्: Nīla
• नीलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नाम

• नवभिः: with nine
• नवभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक (qualifying इषुभिः understood)

• आहत्य: having struck
• आहत्य: पूर्वकाल (Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having struck’

• मैन्दम्: Mainda
• मैन्दम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• द्विविदम्: Dvivida
• द्विविदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नाम

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय; ‘so/likewise’

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘with three’ (repeated distributively)

• त्रिभिः: with three (each)
• त्रिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति = ‘three each’

• अमित्रघ्नः: slayer of enemies
• अमित्रघ्नः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (अमित्रं हन्ति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; epithet

• तताप: assailed
• तताप: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; here ‘tormented/assailed’

• प्रवरेषुभिः: with excellent arrows
• प्रवरेषुभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक) + इषु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (प्रवराः इषवः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Context

"Rama, and Lakshmana and even all valiant Vanaras have been got rid of just like clouds of autumn are wasted."

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit (Rāvaṇi)
• Rākṣasas
• Vānara troop-leaders (implied targets)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores how adharma escalates: after boastful speech comes further aggression. Dharma emphasizes restraint and proportionality, especially toward leaders whose fall affects many.

What is the narrative situation?

Immediately after encouraging the Rākṣasas, Indrajit continues the attack, targeting the opposing side’s leaders.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indrajit’s martial effectiveness is shown, but the Ramayana’s ethical frame invites evaluation of how power is used—whether aligned with righteousness or domination.