Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

तानर्धयित्वाबाणौघैस्त्रासयित्वाचवानरान् ।।6.46.23।।प्रजहासमहाबाहुर्वचनंचेदमब्रवीत् ।

Transliteration

tān ardhayitvā bāṇaughais trāsayitvā ca vānarān | prajahāsa mahābāhur vacanaṃ cedam abravīt || 6.46.23 ||

Translation

ครั้นกระหน่ำด้วยห่าศรจนพวกเขาบอบช้ำ และทำให้วานรทั้งหลายหวาดผวาแล้ว ผู้มีแขนแกร่งนั้นก็หัวเราะ แล้วกล่าววาจานี้

Word by Word

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; वानरान् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अर्धयित्वा: having wounded
• अर्धयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्धय् (धातु, causative of ऋध्/अर्ध् in epic usage)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having struck/afflicted’

• बाणौघैः: with torrents of arrows
• बाणौघैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बाणानाम् ओघाः)

• त्रासयित्वा: having frightened
• त्रासयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रस् (धातु, णिच् causative)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय, ‘having terrified’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• वानरान्: monkeys
• वानरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रजहास: laughed aloud
• प्रजहास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; प्र-उपसर्ग

• महाबाहुः: the mighty-armed one
• महाबाहुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (महान्तौ बाहू यस्य)

• वचनम्: words/speech
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वचनम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Indrajith hurt the Vanaras with hails of arrows terrifying them. Then the mighty armed son of Ravana laughed and spoke these words.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit
• Vānaras

FAQs

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

Dharma includes restraint in victory: laughing after causing fear reflects arrogance and cruelty, warning that speech and attitude reveal one’s moral alignment even amid war.

What is the narrative situation?

After wounding and frightening the vānaras, Indrajit prepares to address his side/the battlefield with a taunting proclamation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is humility and self-control—qualities absent in the aggressor’s taunt, and therefore held up indirectly as dharmic ideals.