Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 2

इन्द्रजित्-वधः

The Slaying of Indrajit

Devanagari script

तौधवनिनौजिघांसन्तवन्योन्यमिषुभिर्भृशम् ।विजयेनाभिनिष्क्रान्तौवनेगजवृषाविव ।।।।

Transliteration

tau dhanvinau jighāṃsantāv anyonyam iṣubhir bhṛśam |

vijayenābhiniṣkrāntau vane gajavṛṣāv iva ||

Translation

Ang dalawang mamamana, nag-aalab na patayin ang isa’t isa at marahas na nagpapalitan ng mga palaso, ay sumugod upang kamtin ang tagumpay—gaya ng dalawang maharlikang elepante sa gubat.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• धन्विनौ: two bowmen
• धन्विनौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• जिघांसन्तौ: wishing to kill
• जिघांसन्तौ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent, participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + सन् (इच्छार्थक) → जिघांस् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; सन्नन्त (desiderative)

• अन्योन्यम्: each other
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); परस्परवाचक (reciprocal)

• इषुभिः: with arrows
• इषुभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इषु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भृशम्: exceedingly
• भृशम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• विजयेन: for victory / with the aim of victory
• विजयेन: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); हेतौ/निमित्ते (as cause/means)

• अभिनिष्क्रान्तौ: having sallied forth
• अभिनिष्क्रान्तौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-निस्-क्रम् (धातु) → अभिनिष्क्रान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गजवृषौ: (like) an elephant and a bull
• गजवृषौ: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (copulative): गज + वृष; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-suchaka (उपमासूचक/Comparative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle of comparison)

Context

Exceedingly wanting to kill one another, wielding bows, both sallied forth like Lordly elephants in the forest, to succeed.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Indrajit

FAQs

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

The verse frames combat as a direct contest of responsibility: when dharma is threatened, the protector must step forward to confront the danger rather than evade it.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana and Indrajit close in for a fierce duel, each intent on victory and the other’s defeat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and unwavering commitment to one’s cause—especially Lakshmana’s duty-bound readiness to face a powerful enemy.