Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 30

वज्रदंष्ट्रवधः — The Slaying of Vajradaṃṣṭra

Angada’s Duel

Devanagari script

जग्राहचार्षभंचर्मखडगंचविपुलंशुभम् ।।6.54.30।।किङ्किणाजालसञ्छन्नंचर्मणाचपरिष्कृतम् ।

Transliteration

jagrāha cārṣabhaṁ carma khaḍgaṁ ca vipulaṁ śubham |

kiṅkiṇījālasañchannaṁ carmaṇā ca pariṣkṛtam |

Translation

Kinuha niya ang isang malaki at maningning na tabak, at isang kalasag na yari sa balat ng toro—natatakpan ng lambat ng maliliit na kampanilya at maayos na ginawang balat.

Word by Word

• jagrāha: seized
• jagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• ārṣabham: made of bull-hide
• ārṣabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying carma: ‘of bull-hide’)

• carmam: shield/leather (hide)
• carmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• khaḍgam: sword
• khaḍgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• vipulam: large
• vipulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying khaḍgam/carmam by context)

• śubham: splendid
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• kiṅkiṇī-jāla-sañchannam: covered with a mesh of bells
• kiṅkiṇī-jāla-sañchannam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kiṅkiṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक) + sañchanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (covered with a net of small bells)

• carmaṇā: with leather
• carmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• pariṣkṛtam: well-finished/encased
• pariṣkṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√kṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Context

(The Rakshasa seized) a huge bright sword, a shield decorated with tiny bells and sword encased in hide sheath.

Characters & Entities

• Vajradaṁṣṭra
• khaḍga (sword)

FAQs

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

The verse implies that external equipment cannot replace inner righteousness. Dharma emphasizes intention and cause; splendid arms may serve either dharma or adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

The rākṣasa re-arms himself, taking up sword and shield to continue the duel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial readiness and determination (though directed by anger, as earlier stated).