Shloka 38

वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra

Angada’s Duel

Devanagari script

निहत्यतंवज्रधरप्रतापःसवालिसूनुःकपिसैन्यमध्ये ।जगामहर्षंमहितोमहाबलःसहस्रनेत्रस्त्रिदशैरिवावृतः ।।6.54.38।।

Transliteration

nihatya taṃ vajradhara-pratāpaḥ sa vālisūnuḥ kapi-sainya-madhye |

jagāma harṣaṃ mahito mahābalaḥ sahasra-netras tridaśair ivāvṛtaḥ ||6.54.38||

Translation

เมื่อสังหารเขาแล้ว บุตรแห่งพาลีผู้มีฤทธิ์ดั่งพระอินทร์ผู้ทรงวัชระ ก็ได้รับการยกย่องท่ามกลางกองทัพวานร ร่าเริงดั่งพระอินทร์พันตาที่รายล้อมด้วยเหล่าเทวดา

Word by Word

• वज्रदंष्ट्रम्: Vajradaṃṣṭra
• वज्रदंष्ट्रम्: कर्म (object of श्रुत्वा—what was heard)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र + दंष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हतम्: killed
• हतम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वज्रदंष्ट्रम् इति विशेषणम्

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त

• वालिपुत्रेण: by Vali's son
• वालिपुत्रेण: करण/कर्ता (agent in implied passive: 'killed by')
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालि + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वालेः पुत्रः; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• रावणः: Ravana
• रावणः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बलाध्यक्षम्: the commander of the army
• बलाध्यक्षम्: कर्म (object of उवाच)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल + अध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: बलस्य अध्यक्षः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म (वाक्यकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वाक्यकर्म (content)

• कृताञ्जलिम्: with folded hands
• कृताञ्जलिम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: कृतः अञ्जलिः येन (with folded hands); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बलाध्यक्षम् इति विशेषणम्

• उपस्थितम्: standing near/present
• उपस्थितम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + स्था (धातु) → उपस्थित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बलाध्यक्षम् इति विशेषणम्

Context

Between the heroes fighting the battle, who never returned, Great War continued between Rakshasas troops and Vanaras.

Characters & Entities

• Vajradaṃṣṭra
• Indra (Vajradhara, Sahasranetra)
• Gods (Tridaśas)
• Vānara army

FAQs

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

Dharma rewards rightful effort with honor and communal recognition; joy follows not from cruelty, but from successful protection of a just mission.

What is the narrative situation?

Aṅgada is celebrated among the vānara forces after killing Vajradaṃṣṭra, likened to Indra honored among the gods.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Yaśas (earned renown) grounded in service—leadership that inspires and strengthens the community.