Shloka 16

इन्द्रजितः ब्रह्मास्त्र-यागः तथा वानरसेनाविध्वंसः

Indrajit’s Brahmastra Rite and the Crushing of the Vanara Host

Devanagari script

अवीज्यतततोवीरोहैमैर्हेमविभूषितैः ।चारुचामरमुख्यैश्चमुख्यस्सर्वधनुष्मताम् ।।।।

Transliteration

avījyata tato vīro haimair hema-vibhūṣitaiḥ | cāru-cāmara-mukhyaiś ca mukhyaḥ sarva-dhanuṣmatām ||

Translation

ครั้นแล้ว วีรบุรุษผู้เป็นยอดแห่งนักธนูทั้งปวง ก็มีผู้พัดวีชนีจามระอันงดงาม ด้ามทองประดับทองถวาย

Word by Word

• अवीज्यत: was fanned
• अवीज्यत: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वीज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive): 'was fanned'

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: then/thereafter)

• वीरः: the hero
• वीरः: Karma (कर्म/Object in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• हैमैः: golden
• हैमैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (of चामरमुख्यैः)

• हेम-विभूषितैः: adorned with gold
• हेम-विभूषितैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष् धातु)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (adorned), तत्पुरुषः—हेमेन विभूषित (adorned with gold)

• चारु-चामर-मुख्यैः: with excellent beautiful fly-whisks
• चारु-चामर-मुख्यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + चामर (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—चारवः चामराः (beautiful fly-whisks), मुख्यैः = 'chief/best' qualifying; instrument of fanning

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• मुख्यः: chief
• मुख्यः: Karma (कर्म/Object in passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (of वीरः)

• सर्व-धनुष्मताम्: of all bowmen
• सर्व-धनुष्मताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + धनुष्मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—सर्वेषां धनुष्मतां (of all archers)

Context

Thereafter the chief hero went decked with golden ornaments, fanned by archers holding whisks with gold handles.

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit (contextual identification)
• cāmara (fly-whisk)
• archers (dhanuṣmat)

FAQs

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

Honor and service are ethically meaningful when offered to a righteous cause; the verse invites reflection on how social devotion can be misapplied when leadership is aligned with adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

The text describes Indrajit’s royal treatment and the ceremonial attendance surrounding his movement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Excellence in archery and elevated status—externally affirmed by attendants—while the Ramayana’s moral lens ultimately prioritizes satya and dharma over rank.