Shloka 16

युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्

Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault

Devanagari script

एतानौत्पातिकान् दृष्टवावज्रदंष्ट्रोमहाबलः ।धैर्यमालम्भ्यतेजस्वीनिर्जगामरणोत्सुकः ।।।।

Transliteration

etān autpātikān dṛṣṭvā vajradaṃṣṭro mahābalaḥ |

dhairyam ālambhya tejasvī nirjagāma raṇotsukaḥ ||

Translation

ครั้นวชรทังษฏระผู้มีกำลังยิ่ง เห็นนิมิตอาเพศเหล่านั้น ก็ยึดมั่นในความกล้าหาญด้วยใจแน่วแน่ ผู้รุ่งโรจน์ด้วยเดชานุภาพ จึงก้าวออกไปด้วยความกระหายศึก

Word by Word

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• औत्पातिकान्: portentous (omens)
• औत्पातिकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: औत्पातिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; एतान् इति विशेषणम् (portent-like)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund), 'having seen'

• वज्रदंष्ट्रः: Vajradaṃṣṭra (one with thunderbolt-like fangs)
• वज्रदंष्ट्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—वज्रवत् दंष्ट्राः यस्य (he whose fangs are like a thunderbolt)

• महाबलः: mighty
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (अव्ययवत्) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—महद् बलं यस्य (very strong)

• धैर्यम्: steadfastness, courage
• धैर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• आलम्ब्य: having assumed
• आलम्ब्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लम्ब् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund), 'having taken hold of/assuming'

• तेजस्वी: radiant, energetic
• तेजस्वी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तेजस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषणम्

• निर्जगाम: went out, sallied forth
• निर्जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• रणोत्सुकः: eager for battle
• रणोत्सुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्सुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—रणे उत्सुकः (eager for battle)

Context

Then the fierce animals indicated the death of Rakshasas, who were going deluded with war and fell down.

Characters & Entities

• Vajradaṃṣṭra
• Portents (autpātikāni)

FAQs

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

Courage is not automatically dharmic; Dharma requires right discernment—bravery used in an unjust cause becomes misplaced valor.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite ominous signs, Vajradaṃṣṭra gathers courage and goes out from Laṅkā to fight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Valor (śaurya/dhairya) is highlighted, though the verse invites reflection on whether it is guided by righteous judgment.