Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

गवाक्षंशरभंचैवद्वावप्यमिततेजसौ ।।6.46.20।।द्वाभ्यांद्वाभ्यांमहावेगोविव्याधयुधिरावणिः ।

Transliteration

gavākṣaṃ śarabhaṃ caiva dvāv api amita-tejasau | dvābhyāṃ dvābhyāṃ mahāvego vivyādha yudhi rāvaṇiḥ || 6.46.20 ||

Translation

แล้วบุตรแห่งราวณะ ผู้ว่องไวในยุทธภูมิ ก็ยิงศรสองดอกต่อสองดอก แทงทะลุสองผู้ทรงเดช คือ ควาวักษะและศรภะ

Word by Word

• gavākṣam: Gavaksha
• gavākṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gavākṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• śarabham: Sharabha
• śarabham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha-nipāta (सम्बन्ध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (emphasis)

• dvau: two
• dvau: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्, पुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, द्विवचनम् — गवाक्ष-शरभयोः

• api: also / even
• api: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-निपातः

• amitatejasau: of immeasurable prowess
• amitatejasau: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amita-tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारयः ‘अमितं तेजः ययोः’ (of immeasurable splendour); पुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, द्विवचनम् — तयोः विशेषणम्

• dvābhyām: with two (arrows)
• dvābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, तृतीया, द्विवचनम्

• dvābhyām: with two (and two)
• dvābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, तृतीया, द्विवचनम् (पुनरुक्तिः—‘two each’)

• mahāvegaḥ: the very swift one
• mahāvegaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारयः ‘महान् वेगः यस्य’ (very swift); पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् — रावणेर् विशेषणम्

• vivyādha: pierced
• vivyādha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√vyadh (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• yudhi: in battle
• yudhi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yudh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्

• rāvaṇiḥ: Ravani (Indrajit)
• rāvaṇiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

Context

Indrajith endowed with speed in war, attacked highly energetic Gavaksha and Sarabha with two arrows each.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Gavākṣa
• Śarabha

FAQs

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

The verse sits within the battlefield where dharma is tested: power and speed are morally neutral, and the Ramayana invites the reader to judge their use—whether in defense of righteousness or in service of adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Indrajit resumes combat and targets prominent vānaras, wounding Gavākṣa and Śarabha with measured volleys (two arrows each).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial prowess (śaurya) and battlefield swiftness are emphasized in Indrajit’s action, though the epic frames such prowess as ethically accountable to one’s cause.