Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 30

युद्धकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः — धूम्राक्षवधश्रवणं, वज्रदंष्ट्रप्रेषणं, अङ्गद-राक्षसयुद्धम्

Ravana Dispatches Vajradamshtra; Portents and Angada’s Assault

Devanagari script

अङ्गदाभिहतास्तत्रराक्षसाभीमविक्रमाः ।विभिन्नशिरसःपेतुर्विकृताइवपादपाः ।।।।

Transliteration

aṅgadābhihatās tatra rākṣasā bhīma-vikramāḥ |

vibhinna-śirasaḥ petur vikṛtā iva pādapāḥ ||

Translation

Doon, ang mga rākṣasa na may nakapanghihilakbot na lakas, na tinamaan ni Anggada, ay bumagsak na wasak ang mga ulo, na parang mga punòng tinaga at pininsala.

Word by Word

• अङ्गदाभिहताः: struck by Angada
• अङ्गदाभिहताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्गद + अभि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘by Angada struck’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• राक्षसाः: Rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भीमविक्रमाः: of dreadful valor
• भीमविक्रमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (bhīmaḥ vikramaḥ yeṣām)

• विभिन्नशिरसः: with split heads
• विभिन्नशिरसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभिन्न + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘विभिन्नानि शिरांसि येषाम्’ (whose heads were split)

• पेतुः: fell
• पेतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम

• विकृताः: mangled
• विकृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘mangled/distorted’ (qualifying implied subject)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• पादपाः: trees
• पादपाः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

Context

The battlefield with strewn armlets, necklaces and clothes, weapons looked like autumnal night decorated all over.

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgada
• Rākṣasas
• Trees (simile)

FAQs

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

It reflects the Ramayana’s moral arc that unrighteous violence ultimately collapses; even “fearsome” power (bhīma-vikrama) cannot endure when opposed by a dharmic alliance.

What is the narrative situation?

Aṅgada’s assault breaks the rākṣasa fighters; many fall dead or incapacitated on the battlefield.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Unstoppable strength joined with purpose—Aṅgada’s effective might in combat.